Mbadi: Cost of living can't drop by increasing fuel prices

Nominated MP John Mbadi has said that the prices of petroleum products shouldn't be increased if the aim is to lower the cost of living.

Speaking on Citizen TV on Thursday, Mbadi said that the high cost of living is one of the major problems Kenyans face today and should be the top agenda for the government.

"If I were to handle the economy as it is today, my target would be the cost of living and that should be the target of any serious government," he said.

The MP said the government should stop talking about subsidising production and instead come up with policies that would actually help reduce the cost of living.

"We need to come up with policies in the bill that would help production. Come up with a fund that can help the micro, small and medium enterprises," Mbadi said.

A spot check by the Star early this week showed that maize flour prices have remained at a high of Sh190-Sh230 per 2kg packet.

The cheapest unga in the local supermarkets is currently retailing at Sh194.

Others are selling at Sh204 to as high as Sh262 for some of the premium brands.

At Quickmart Supermarket, unga was retaining at between Sh198-Sh256.

On the other hand, sugar prices have doubled since the beginning of the month.

A two-kilo packet of sugar that was in the first week selling at an average of Sh200 is now retailing at Sh420.

Most customers are now preferring to buy a kilo of sugar rather than the 2kg packet due to the high cost.

The spot check further showed that the cheapest brand of sugar in the local supermarkets is selling at Sh189 per 1kg packet.

At the Naivas Supermarket, a kilo of sugar is sold at Sh189 while 2kg packet is sold at Sh350 but a customer is limited to buying a maximum of two packets.

At Quickmart Supermarket, brown sugar retails at Sh365 per two-kilo, while other brands are sold for at least Sh420 for a 2kg packet. One kilo packet goes for Sh185.