Narok residents can now heave a sigh of relief as the prices of cooking gas dropped by Sh500 in two months after President William Ruto announced the removal of tax levied on gas to discourage the use of wood fuel.
A spot check by KNA, which was conducted on cooking gas retailers in Narok town, has shown that the price of refilling a cooking gas cylinder has dropped significantly.
Gas retailers noted the decline in prices of cooking gas two months following the presidential directives to the Ministry of Energy to remove tax levied on cooking gas.
According to gas retailers in Narok town, the prices of refilling 13-kg and 6-kg cylinders at the beginning of this year have risen up to Ksh. 3000 and 1,500, respectively.
Levy Simiren, a gas retailer in Narok town, said the prices of refilling cooking gas have dropped significantly, adding that it is now retailing at Sh 2,500 and Sh 1,000 for 13-kg and 6-kg cylinders, respectively.
“Many customers have come back after realising that the price of cooking gas dropped. Initially, customers were complaining of higher prices for cooking gas and a very small number could afford it,” he said.
Simiren noted that gas business has returned to normal as customers can now afford to refill their cylinders. This shows that the government is working towards its promise of reducing the price of gas to below Sh1,000 in the near future.
On his part, Timothy Manyarra, a customer, said it is a sigh of relief to gas users as the government has reduced the prices of gas, thus people have shifted from the use of charcoal to gas usage.
Enock Mwangi, a gas retailer in the Majengo area, applauded the government for removing tax levied on gas. Since then, people have been refilling gas cylinders without complaining, compared to the beginning of this year.
The residents call on the government to further drop the prices of cooking gas to Kshs 800 for 6-kg cylinders and Kshs 2,000 for 13-kg cylinders, which are affordable prices for many Kenyans.
By John Kaleke and Rakwa Jackson
