Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda in the East African Community (EAC) Gazette for June 30 did away with the duty-free importation of Liquid Gas (LPG) cylinders, slapping them with a 25 per cent import duty.

This is likely to see the price of the cleaner and more efficient energy source rise beyond the reach of most households that are already overburdened by a steep cost of living. Uptake of LPG has been picking up steadily in recent years, as more Kenyans abandon fuel sources such as kerosene, firewood and charcoal. However, the latest policy is likely to put a damper on this momentum.

In July, in Kenya the price of a 13kg cylinder rose by 4.95 per cent to Sh2, 176.31 compared with Sh2, 073.62 in July last year, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The price of kerosene has also been on an upward trajectory, with KNBS data showing that a litre of the fuel increased by 36.41 per cent to Sh86.69 compared with Sh63.55 in the same period last year.

Full article: Standard Digital