EPRA launches safety campaign as energy accidents surge

As more Kenyans turn to modern energy sources like LPG, electricity, and petroleum to power their homes and businesses, the risk of deadly accidents has escalated—prompting the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to launch a nationwide safety awareness initiative dubbed Kaa Safe Mtaani.

The campaign is a direct response to rising incidents of energy-related tragedies, the most notable being the Embakasi Mradi LPG explosion in February 2024.

The blast left at least six people dead, over 280 others injured, and destroyed more than 400 homes and small businesses.

The explosion caused by an illegal LPG refilling operation within a residential area highlighted glaring gaps in public awareness, enforcement, and risk perception, particularly in densely populated informal settlements.

According to EPRA’s 2023/2024 Energy and Petroleum Statistics Report, the country’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) consumption reached 360,594 metric tonnes in the last financial year, driven in part by government tax incentives and growing urban demand.

While cleaner than kerosene and charcoal, LPG poses significant safety risks if mishandled.

Electricity use has also surged, with peak demand reaching an all-time high of 2,177.13 megawatts in February 2024, up from 2,149 MW the previous year.

Despite this growth, system reliability remains a concern. Power outages have worsened, with the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) rising to 10.14 hours per customer per month—double EPRA’s target of five hours. Frequent national blackouts, such as those in August and December 2023 and April 2024, further underline the fragility of the grid.

The sector also continues to grapple with high system losses. The report shows that 23.47 percent of the electricity purchased from power producers is lost during transmission and distribution well above EPRA’s benchmark of 18.5 percent.

These losses stem from technical failures, illegal connections, and meter tampering, posing both financial and safety risks.

According to the deputy director for public education and advocacy EPRA, Ann Kiprotich, the Kaa Safe Mtaani is not just a campaign, it is a life-saving mission.

 “We are educating households, electricians, LPG retailers, and transporters to reduce risks and ensure compliance with safety standards. The campaign targets informal settlements, transport corridors, and low-income areas where infrastructure is weak and energy use is rapidly expanding. Primary audiences include families using LPG in densely populated areas, drivers and petroleum transporters, and residents using electricity in areas prone to poor wiring and illegal hookups," she said.

She added that the campaign is grounded in data and aims for long-term behaviour change.

Ann Kiprotich added that EPRA has already held regional stakeholder workshops in Machakos and Nyeri and plans to roll out similar forums in Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi, and Isiolo. 

"The broader goal is to empower grassroots champions to lead local safety education efforts while building a coalition of public and private sector actors committed to long-term energy safety. The campaign also emphasizes proper licensing, safer installations, and public vigilance in reporting unsafe practices," she said.

She added that with renewable energy now accounting for nearly 80 percent of Kenya’s installed electricity capacity, and more households transitioning from traditional fuels, safety must keep pace with access. 

"The green energy transition, while welcome, should not come at the cost of lives lost to preventable accidents," she added.