Tanzanian businessmen Ally Edha Awadh and Rostam Aziz are making significant inroads into Kenya’s liquefied petroleum gas sector after securing key court rulings that had delayed their expansion plans. Awadh’s Lake Gas, based in Kilifi, recently saw its Environmental Impact Assessment licence upheld, while Aziz’s Ksh16 billion ($124 million) Taifa Gas terminal in Mombasa cleared legal challenges, paving the way for both companies to scale operations in the country.
Since mid-2025, Lake Gas has begun importing LPG at its Kilifi facility, capturing roughly two percent of the Kenyan market, with plans to expand capacity to 30,000 tonnes. Awadh inaugurated the $60 million Vipingo terminal in June, receiving its first shipment of 10,000 tonnes of cooking gas from Nigeria. The facility employs an offshore conventional buoy mooring system to offload gas, which is then piped to storage onshore, marking a milestone for the country’s clean energy ambitions.
The recent rulings follow a series of setbacks. Lake Gas faced legal and regulatory obstacles, including a December 2019 revocation of its EIA permit over public participation concerns and fines for defying a construction halt in March 2025. Similarly, Taifa Gas’s Likoni terminal in the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone overcame petitions against its development.
“The court decisions guarantee a reliable supply and reduce uncertainty,” said Morris Mutiso, general manager of Lake Gas Vipingo. Awadh described the Vipingo launch as a landmark for Kenya’s energy sector, while Aziz highlighted the social benefits of Taifa Gas, including initiatives supporting women and local livelihoods. Both projects align with Kenya’s Open Tender System reforms, which aim to double per capita LPG consumption from seven to 15 kilograms by 2028 and expand market coverage from 24 to 70 percent.
For Awadh, the Kenya expansion is part of a broader regional strategy. From a small fuel distributor in Tanzania in 2006, he has grown Lake Gas into an East African player with over 400 fuel tankers and multiple terminals across Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Burundi. Rostam Aziz, the first Tanzanian billionaire listed by Forbes, brings decades of experience in energy and telecommunications. Through Taifa Gas, he has established storage and distribution networks in Tanzania and Rwanda, making him a formidable competitor in the region.
Together, Awadh and Aziz are reshaping East Africa’s LPG market. Their ventures combine strategic investment, operational expertise, and community engagement, challenging established operators such as Mombasa’s African Gas and Oil Company while advancing access to clean energy in the region.
