Government Unveils Ksh 50,000 Fines For These traders As It Heightens Move To curb Illegal Businesses
The Kenyan Government has tightened measures meant to curb illegal trading in Kenya which has risen over time, among those affected are those in the gas cooking business.
Traders in the cooking gas- selling business risk paying Sh50,000 in fine under new regulations introduced to curb illegal gas trades in Kenya.
Under the new rules in Parliament, traders must have a receipt including a name and telephone of the seller, contacts of the consumer, cylinder brand, date of sale as well a serial number of the seal and gas container.
The rules further stipulate that oil marketers provide an insurance cover for each cylinder which will cater for compensation in case of accidents.
Transportation of Gas cylinders in a car will be limited to three except for special cases when regulatory exemptions are issued
“A person licensed to undertake the business of retail of liquefied petroleum gas in cylinders shall issue liquefied petroleum gas consumers with a receipt.
“A person who contravenes this regulation commits an offence and is liable to the fine,” Petroleum (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) Regulations 2019 said.
Marketers will be expected to be in a position to track cylinders by use of Radio Frequency Identification or any other technology under the new regulations.
In order to protect and secure oil dealers, the penalties for illegal gas refiling will attract a minimum of Sh 10 million in fine, an increase from the Sh 1 million under the previous regulations.
The new rules stipulate that the dealers maintain a list of its authorized filling agents, wholesalers, retailers and cylinder requalification agents, serial numbers or quick response codes and date of requalification of each cylinder.
This move is keen to regulate the illegal gas trading perpetuated by cartels, which has seen the gas prices increase despite the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on clean fuel by Government in 2016.
Featured Image Courtesy: Gmart.co.ke
