![Six Kenyan Creatives Win Sh4.5M in Capture the Good Challenge [Details]](https://www.breakingkenyanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/cfbe48b2-fc56-43e3-93d4-3a1de9043bf5-300x200.webp)
Growth in cooking gas use, electricity and petroleum products has driven growth in Kenya’s energy sector, piling pressure on infrastructure development and supply reliability.
Latest data by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), released on Tuesday, shows LPG use rose 14.62 per cent to 475,943 metric tonnes in the six months to June 2026.
This has lifted per capita consumption (the average amount used by a single person, per year) from 7.9 kilogrammes to 8.9 kilogrammes.
The growth highlights increasing uptake of cleaner cooking energy as households, institutions and businesses gradually move away from traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal.
According to EPRA acting director general Joseph Oketch, the increase is as a result of expanded importation, storage and distribution infrastructure, improved product availability and government interventions aimed at promoting clean cooking.
The trend is significant for households because cooking fuel remains a major component of domestic energy use, particularly for low- and middle-income families that are vulnerable to fluctuations in energy prices.
The government is also targeting institutions as part of its clean cooking strategy.
Speaking during the release of the sector statistics, Mohamed Birik, Secretary Administration in the State Department for Petroleum said the National LPG Growth Strategy and subsidised six-kilogramme LPG cylinders programme has helped rise consumption.
The government is providing bulk LPG systems to more than 11,000 public boarding schools, TVETs and training institutions.
He called on Kenyans should take advantage of subsidised six-kilogramme LPG cylinders being distributed by National Oil Corporation of Kenya, noting that the intervention is intended to expand access to cleaner cooking energy.
The programme is expected to reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal while improving access to cleaner and more efficient cooking energy in institutions and households.
But the transition is happening alongside rising demand across the wider economy, raising questions about whether Kenya’s energy infrastructure can keep pace.
Domestic electricity consumption recorded the strongest growth among customer categories, increasing 18.87 percent to 4,327.07 gigawatt-hours during the year.
The number of new individual electricity connections rose by 411,710, taking cumulative grid-connected customers to 10.43 million.
Large commercial and industrial consumers remained the largest electricity users, accounting for 47.57 percent of total consumption.
The increase points to growing energy needs from manufacturing, businesses and other productive activities.
Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira said the country must ensure energy remains accessible as demand grows.
He said increasing electricity consumption from manufacturing, digital infrastructure, commercial development and electric mobility requires stronger, more flexible and resilient transmission and distribution networks.
“The transformation and distribution networks must become stronger, more flexible, and more resilient,” he said, linking the expansion of energy infrastructure to increased investment.
Electric mobility was another major growth area, with electricity consumption by electric vehicles rising 143.01 percent from 5.04 GWh to 12.25 GWh.
The increase followed greater uptake of the e-mobility tariff. EPRA also removed the 15,000 kWh monthly consumption cap for e-mobility customers, a move intended to support higher electricity use as more electric vehicles enter the market.
For consumers and businesses, however, rising demand means reliability and affordability will remain critical.
Petroleum imports increased 11.52 per cent to 10.88 million cubic metres, reflecting higher demand from key economic sectors, particularly transport and construction. Domestic petroleum consumption rose 8.41 per cent to 6.33 million cubic metres.
Imports under the government-to-government framework accounted for 72.42 percent of total petroleum import volumes.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s installed electricity generation capacity increased 3.81 percent to 3,987.20 MW by June 2026.
Captive solar PV capacity grew 24.22 percent, signalling increased investment by businesses and other consumers seeking alternative sources of power.
EPRA also approved 10 power purchase agreements during the year and issued 11 generation licences, eight distribution and retail supply licences and one electricity export and import licence.
For ordinary consumers, the statistics point to an energy system that is expanding but also facing growing pressure to deliver reliable and affordable power and cleaner cooking fuels, as the Middle East war pushed up energy costs with LPG, petroleum products and power bills surging.
The authority received 489 complaints during the year, resolving 482 while seven remained under review at the close of the financial year.
![Six Kenyan Creatives Win Sh4.5M in Capture the Good Challenge [Details]](https://www.breakingkenyanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/cfbe48b2-fc56-43e3-93d4-3a1de9043bf5-768x512.webp)
