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{
    "id": 208518,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/208518/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 158,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Capt. Nakitare",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 348,
        "legal_name": "Davis Wafula Nakitare",
        "slug": "davis-nakitare"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. This Motion is very important. It affects the small holders and people who would want to go into private practice. We had the Trade and Supplies Act in the previous Governments and there were many licences. We know why unscrupulous business people would like to prevent upcoming people in trade. We had an embargo in the flow of commodities. During that time, there was a case of hoarding commodities which was necessary at that time. Even now, when we talk about restrictions in licensing--- The Ministry of Trade of Industry has reduced the number of licences. I think opening the whole door, instead of just giving a ventilation in trade, would help Kenyans. It would help Kenyans under a common market. It would also encourage the youth to go into trade without any hinderance. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Cap. 504 of the Laws of Kenya, which introduces price controls, has to be scrutinised. We have to interrogate that Act with the developments in the new Kenya. How do we protect the consumer? A consumer has a choice. A consumer has a right to choose. If he is constrained or restrained from going to a particular section of the commodity, he has no choice. He is forced to trade with that single line. That is not different from single-sourcing. So, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have areas where we feel that this Act muzzles the interest and freedom of a consumer. Looking at the motor industry, gone are the years when people went to show rooms to look for cars to buy. But because there is a ventilation of motor trade, we have seen the mushrooming of motor bazaars. Motor vehicle bazaars are an encouragement even to the people who cannot afford expensive vehicles in show rooms. It also encourages a variety of choices that one would want to be exposed to. As you can see in a motor bazaar--- It is not Marshalls only! It is not Toyota only. It is not Mercedes Benz only. It is a variety of vehicles that you can go in and choose. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if we have price controls in modern Kenya, there is something that we are denying our nationals. It means that we are choosing for them, and they have no choice. We have the Kenya Bureau of Standards that looks into the standards of commodities that are traded and consumed in this country. We have to look behind. We are also getting to know what other countries are doing. We have the Food and Agricultural Department in the United States of America (USA). They look at the quality and quantity of food. They also go to the people who are supposed to know the quality and quantity of food. SGS is the general superintendence. They actually re-look at various trades and how much commodities are charged; whether exorbitantly or not. That is an indication that determines what a consumer would go through. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the distribution point is a licence. If we have to make only one or two areas as the distribution points, our commerce or economy in the country is not going to be competitive. Of course, we know that there is elasticity of commodities based on choice. I know that when we have a few licences--- What does it mean to an electrician who would want to be in"
}