Khwisero Member of Parliament Christopher Aseka is seeking to amend the Price Control (Essential Goods) law to allow the government to set maximum prices for foods in the country.
Appearing before the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Aseka defended the Price Control (Essential Goods) (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which seeks to set a maximum wholesale price for goods.
Further, he said the bill will grant the treasury power to set the maximum retail prices for essential commodities including maize, maize flour, wheat, wheat flour, rice, cooking fat, oil and sugar.
The Khwisero MP argued that the amendment would shield Kenyans from the constant sudden increase of essential food prices.
He noted that Kenyans were already facing difficult financial times yet some retailers and wholesalers take advantage of unsuspecting Kenyans by hiking prices.
Additionally, Aseka stated that the changes would prevent such retailers and wholesalers from hoarding the essential goods.
However, members of the Budget Committee affirmed that prices of goods are determined by forces of demand and supply.
Also Read: List of Items Whose Prices Increased or Reduced in September
The proposal comes against the background of high cost of living occasioned by, among others, high cost of essential commodities.
Despite government’s assurance that food prices would fall, some prices of basic commodities have remained high- a situation that has been blamed on food shortage in the country.
Govt Bans Imports of Maize and Wheat
On October 5, President William Ruto announced the ban of importation of wheat and maize into the country to protect local farmers.
According to the Head of State, local farmers produced enough supply of maize and wheat. Therefore, the ban would only be lifted if the produce from the local farmers was insufficient.
He also noted that the government would allocate Ksh4 billion to buy grains from the local farmers to stabilize the prices of food in the country.
“We ask our farmers not to sell their produce at throw-away prices. Even if farmers don’t want to sell their maize to National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), they will have an opportunity to dry their produce at the State agency and store it,” Ruto stated.
Also Read: Ruto Bans Importation of Maize and Wheat
KNBS on Increase and Decrease in Food Prices in September
According to the latest report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Potatoes and cabbages are among the food items whose prices increased in September.
The report further added that the prices of potatoes (1Kg) increased by 18.4 percent while cabbages (1kg) went up by 7.4 percent.
Other prices that increased included rent, the cost of kerosene, diesel and petrol, as well as the prices of tomatoes and kales.
On the flip side, the report indicated that the prices of food items such as 2Kgs of wheat flour and fortified maize flour decreased by 3.6 percent and 6.0 percent respectively.
