Kenya MPs start push for price controls

• If enacted, Bill will protect Kenyans from cartels that manipulate the forces of demand and supply to suit their profits.

Debate on the Bill was concluded and it now awaits the committee stage where amendments may be proposed by MPs.

If it sails through the remaining stages of enactment, it would pave way for establishment of a legal framework to require the Minister for Finance to fix the maximum retail and wholesale prices for the goods.

It would criminalise buying or selling of the mentioned goods at a price which exceeds the maximum price fixed for the goods.

Moving debate on the Bill, Eng Maina said it had become necessary because attempts by the government to use market forces to lower prices as well as its exhortations to traders not to overcharge consumers of the essential goods had not borne fruit.

“It has become critical to control the prices of the listed goods to protect Kenyans from exploitative and unscrupulous businesspersons,” he said.

He argued that if enacted, the Bill would help to mitigate the effects of food shortage that citizens have been grappling with.

“It is important to note that the market for most of these goods is dominated by a few market players who appear to work in cahoots to frustrate the forces of demand and supply,” he said.

The result of this cartel like behaviour, he argued, is that the prices have remained unreasonably high and out of the reach of most Kenyans even when they should be coming down in light of prevailing international prices and the global recession.

“This is a poor man’s Bill. We must not allow our citizens to be oppressed in this manner,” he said.

Mr Ekwe Ethuro (Turkana Central, PNU), criticised the recent move by government to change inflation parameters saying it was a tactic to hide the real cost of living.

“We should tackle the real triggers of high inflation and intervene from this point,” he said.

Public Works minister Chris Obure supporting, said fuel prices were unreasonably high.

Mr Erastus Mureithi (Ol-Kalou, PNU) said food was a basic human right and allowing Kenyans to sleep hungry and sometimes die because of high food prices was a violation of the right.

Mr Edwin Yinda (Alego Usonga, ODM) said people should be able to afford at least two meals a day. “It should not be a case of the rich affording three expensive meals a day when the poor man can only budget with Sh50,” he said.

Dr Joyce Laboso (Sotik, ODM) said the government should take responsibility for its citizens.