Rotich’s move on stoves, cooking gas a healthy idea

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich has reduced the import duty on energy-efficient stoves and exempted liquefied petroleum gas from payment of Value Added Tax. The measures are meant to enhance the quality of life for citizens in rural areas who continue to suffer ill-health because of using firewood as a primary source of energy.

According to Rotich, the measures are also intended to support the government’s conservation efforts as fewer trees will be destroyed to provide firewood and charcoal. The reduction of import duty on such stoves from 25 per cent to 10 per cent will align them with similar stoves and cookers that use gas, electricity and other fuels and that attract 10 per cent import duty.