Namwamba wants House team to probe high prices

An MP has called for the formation of a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate the cause of the sharp increase in fuel and food prices and suggest remedial measures.

Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba wants the 15-member team to “enquire into the factors fuelling the sharp rise in inflation and the cost of living in the country".

The team will then table a comprehensive report back to Parliament within 30 days, he says in a notice of motion filed at the office of the clerk Wednesday.

The report of the mooted Committee will have recommendations on both immediate and long-term measures to solve the rapid increase in food and fuel prices.

Mr Namwamba introduced a special motion in the House on Tuesday evening to discuss the current situation, which was the subject of street protests earlier in the day.

He also led accusations by MPs that grand corruption and inefficiency in the energy sector are behind the increase.

Mr Namwamba said in the motion currently under the consideration of the House Clerk that the sharp rise in the cost of living “poses a threat to national stability".

“This challenge is indeed broad, cuts across a multiplicity of sectors and therefore requires remedial multi-pronged measures,” he says.

Initiate

The proposed Parliamentary Select Committee on cost of living is being created to fill the gap left in the absence of an official opposition party, which would ordinarily initiate such measures. 

The proposed members of the committee are: Mr Namwamba, Martha Karua (Gichugu, PNU), Elias Mbau (Maragua, PNU), Rachel Shebesh (Nominated, ODM), Dan Mwazo (Voi, ODM) and Shakila Abdalla (Nominated, ODM-K).

Others include: Charles Kilonzo (Yatta, ODM-K), John Mbadi (Gwasi, ODM), Dr Eseli Simiyu (Kimilili, Ford-Kenya), Dr Joyce Laboso (Sotik, ODM), Nkoidila ole Lankas (Narok South, ODM), Gitobu Imanyara (Imenti Central, CCM), Elijah Lagat (Emgwen, ODM), Charles Onyancha (Bonchari, ODM) and Mohamed Gabow (Wajir North, ODM).

Ms Karua, Ms Shebesh, Mr Kilonzo, Mr Mbadi and Mr Lankas contributed to debate on the subject on Tuesday, where the government was put on its defence over its apparent reluctance to deal with the problem.

Ms Karua accused the Energy Regulatory Commission of failing to perform its role effectively by instituting price controls that have not had a positive impact on the lives of Kenyans.

“How come the minister of Energy does not seem to know that the Energy Regulatory Commission is not performing its job? Is it that those who are comfortable are laughing at the poor?” she posed.

She criticized the tax cuts on kerosene  and diesel announced by Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday as they resulted in the reduction of prices of kerosene by Sh2 whereas the price had increased by Sh9 last week. 

Mr Mbadi accused the Energy minister on failing to deal with corruption at the ministry and instead concentrating on other issues.

He said a lot of money had been lost in the failed pipeline enhancement project by the Kenya Pipeline Corporation, the Triton saga and in the oil importation saga by NOCK.

Mr Mbadi challenged minister Kiraitu Murungi to resign if he is unable to rein in corruption at the ministry.