A new proposal in Parliament aims to grant the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Njuguna Ndung'u, the authority to oversee the pricing of essential commodities. The proposed legislation, known as the Price Control (Essential Goods) (Amendment) Bill, 2023, has been put forward by Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka. Its primary objective is to amend the existing Price Control (Essential Goods) Act of 2011 by introducing a section that outlines policy guidelines for establishing maximum retail and wholesale prices for essential goods.

If the National Assembly approves this bill, the Cabinet Secretary will have the power to set prices for critical items such as maize, maize flour, wheat, wheat flour, rice, cooking fat, oil, and sugar. Additionally, the bill suggests that the Cabinet Secretary can recommend reductions in tariffs and taxes on essential goods, with these recommendations being incorporated into each year's financial statement.

MP Aseka underscores that the bill's main purpose is to protect consumers from sudden and unjustified price hikes for basic necessities, particularly during challenging economic periods in Kenya. He highlights how certain retailers exploit market conditions by hoarding essential goods to artificially inflate prices, and this bill aims to address such issues.

Furthermore, Aseka argues that the proposed legislation will promote fair competition within the marketplace, preventing unfair practices that harm consumers.

However, not everyone is in favor of this bill. Some Members of Parliament express concerns, contending that the prices of these commodities should be determined by market forces of supply and demand. Budget and Appropriations Committee chair, Ndindi Nyoro, stated during a committee meeting that lowering prices might discourage producers from continuing their businesses.

In response to these concerns, MP Aseka maintains that the bill's goal is to strike a balance between safeguarding consumer interests and taking into account international market prices.