Illegally refilled cylinders — "decanted" gas poured from cylinder to cylinder — are a real problem in Kenya. They're underfilled, contaminated, and sometimes unsafe. Here's how to spot them before you pay.
The 60-Second Verification
- Check the seal. Every genuine refill has the brand's factory seal on the valve — intact, unbroken, matching the brand. Missing or tampered = walk away.
- Check the collar engraving. The brand name is stamped on the collar AND the foot ring — not just a sticker.
- Check the colour. Each brand has a standard colour (Rubis dark green, Afrigas blue, etc.). Wrong colour + right logo = suspect.
- Check the KEBS mark. The diamond mark should be printed/engraved on the cylinder.
- Weigh it. A full 13kg cylinder ≈ 26–28kg. If it feels light, it probably is.
Signs of an Illegally Refilled Cylinder
- No factory seal — or a generic plastic cap pretending to be one.
- Price far below market — a "13kg refill" at KSh 1,800 when the market is KSh 2,800+ is decanted gas.
- Sold without exchange — you keep your cylinder and they pour gas into it (illegal in Kenya).
- Suspiciously rusty or repainted — repaint hides a different brand's markings underneath.
- Wrong valve condition — worn, oily, or a valve that looks tampered with.
Why Decanted Gas Is Dangerous
- Underfilled — you pay for 13kg and get 10–11kg.
- Overfilled — filling past the safety margin leaves no expansion room — a rupture risk on hot days.
- Contaminated — decanting introduces moisture, oil and debris into your cylinder.
- No inspection — factory refills test cylinders; roadside sellers don't.
- Illegal — selling gas this way violates EPRA licensing rules.
How to Buy Safely — Every Time
- Buy from licensed dealers — PataGas is EPRA-compliant; roadside pourers aren't.
- Always exchange — your empty for a sealed, branded full one. Never accept poured gas.
- Inspect before the seller leaves — seal, colour, engraving.
- Keep the receipt — proof of where it came from.
- When in doubt, weigh it — a scale tells the truth.
Frequently Asked Questions
My refill looks used and scratched — is that fake?
No — exchange cylinders are reused for years and get scuffed. What matters is the seal, engraving, and weight — not cosmetic wear.
Can I verify the gas weight myself?
Yes — weigh the cylinder and subtract the tare weight stamped on it. Should read close to 13kg of gas. See checking the level.
Where do I report a fake cylinder seller?
To EPRA — they regulate LPG retail. Keeping your receipt helps the report.
Guaranteed genuine: every PataGas cylinder arrives factory-sealed and verified. Order with confidence →