The Kiamaiko Social Justice Center is calling on Parliament to standardise the price of basic commodities.
They have started a petition in hopes that the price of Maize flour, fuel, milk, bread and other basic commodities will be reduced.
“We hope that Parliament initiates legislation that puts a standard price for basic commodities as follows: Maize flour Sh60, Milk Sh40(500ml), Bread Sh45 (400g)”
“Cooking Gas Sh800 (6kg), sh1200 (13kg), Petrol Sh90 (1 litre), Diesel Sh80 (1 litre), Kerosene Sh70 (1 litre) and Sugar Sh70 (1kg),” they said.
They said that February 20 marks the annual United Nations’ (UN) World Day of Social Justice which is observed to encourage people to look at how social justice affects poverty eradication.
“The people of Kenya have become severely affected by the recent increase in the prices of food and basic commodities such as maize flour, wheat flour, cooking oil, cooking gas, milk, bread, sugar, petrol, diesel, kerosene and fertilizer,” they said.
They said the increase of prices threatens the people of Kenya with hunger and starvation.
“More than 35 per cent of Kenyans suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition each year, with 2.6 million facing a food insecurity crisis,” they said.
Additionally, they said, the majority of the residents of Nairobi County are unable to access clean fresh water and proper sanitation.
“65 per cent of women and girls in Kenya are also unable to afford and access sanitary pads,” they said.
They asked that Parliament initiates processes that will ensure the provision of food for all those facing hunger and starvation in Kenya.
“Also, initiate legislation that ensures the provision of free sanitary pads to all women and girls,” they said.
