President William Ruto has called on the private sector to back the government’s initiative to provide cooking gas for public learning institutions.
Speaking during the launch of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Programme at Jamhuri High School in Nairobi, the President emphasized that the project will primarily rely on private sector funding to ensure schools have access to clean energy.
“We will purchase gas from the private sector, which will also be responsible for installing all LPG tanks and related infrastructure in our schools,” he stated. The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has been directed to facilitate the rollout of this programme within one year.
The initiative aims to combat climate change by promoting the use of gas over firewood and charcoal, thereby reducing deforestation. President Ruto highlighted that transitioning to LPG will support the government’s plan to plant 15 billion trees, stating, “We cannot succeed if we continue cutting down trees.”
The President outlined that the programme will connect 11,000 schools to gas, improving health outcomes and conserving the environment. He also announced plans to procure gas through an Open Tender System, ensuring competitive pricing for Kenyans.
Additionally, he shared that the government is working with the private sector to establish a common-user import facility at Kenya Petroleum Refineries Ltd. This initiative aims to enhance LPG accessibility, with zero-rated taxes improving nationwide storage infrastructure.
The President assured parents that 11,000 classrooms for Grade 9 learners will be ready for use when schools reopen in January, reinforcing the government’s commitment to a fit-for-purpose education system.
Among those present at the launch were Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Cabinet Secretaries Opiyo Wandayi (Energy) and Hassan Joho (Mining), as well as various Members of Parliament.
