Are Kenyans Ready for Piped Gas? Why We Need To Use Our Heads

Kenyans in various parts of the country are excited following the announcement that they will soon be having piped gas in their kitchens.

The government, through the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), is in the process of facing out the use of kerosene by increasing its tax and prices for the same.

In the place of kerosene, which is used by 60 percent of Kenyan households for lighting and heating, the government wants to introduce piped gas.

Already, ERC is in the process of pushing for new real estate developers to include piped gas in their constructions.

The move is good in making sure that Kenyans get to use a clean energy that will not destroy the environment especially in the wake of climate change around the world.

But, are Kenyans ready for a piped gas in their houses? A lot of public awareness has to be done before rolling out this program.

It should be noted that majority of Kenyans have a peculiar behavior that always ends up endangering their own lives and that of their neighbors.

There are Kenyans who cannot even switch off a tap of water in their house. How sure we that they will forget to switch off their gas after using it?

There are Kenyans who do not like paying for services, however affordable. How sure we that they will not attempt to tap the gas from the main line into their own houses?

The same way we are not ready to set up a nuclear plant, we are also not ready to have piped gas in our houses. Previously, the government had rolled out a program of selling to Kenyans affordable gas cylinders. What happened? Where did the cylinders go?

It is a fact that Kenya is always ill-prepared when it comes to disaster management. What will happen when a gas pipe bursts into flames? Are we ready to handle such a situation?

Those in charge of the program should use their heads before thinking of implementing the same.