An MP has prepared a bill seeking to give the government powers to control prices of essential goods.
The bill sponsored by Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka seeks to amendment the Price Control (Essential Goods) Act No 26 of 2011.
It seeks to give the Treasury Cabinet Secretary powers to declare essential good through gazette notices from time to time.
The proposed law seeks to amendment Section 2 of the principal act by deleting the word “Minister” and replacing it with the words “Cabinet Secretary” in conformity to the Constitution 2010.
Section 3 of the bill seeks to establish a legal framework to require the Cabinet Secretary responsible for Finance to fix the maximum retail and wholesale prices for the essential goods.
The Bill lists some of the essential goods including maize, maize flour, wheat, wheat flour, rice, cooking oil, cooking fat, sugar, paraffin, diesel and petrol.
Section 4 of the bill states, “The Cabinet Secretary shall provide for appropriate reduction of tariffs and taxes on essential goods listed in subsection (3) to be factored in every year's financial estimates.
“The Cabinet Secretary may make regulation on price controls for essential goods and for the better carrying into effect of the provisions of this Act.”
The bill is currently before the Budget and Appropriation Committee, being a money bill for consideration before being tabled.
Aseka says in his memorandum of objects and reasons that the bill does not contain any provisions limiting any fundamental rights or freedom.
The Bill comes in the wake of runaway cost of living occasioned by the high prices of commodities that has pushed most Kenyans to the edge.
