CS Kuria Escalates Row With Manufacturers

Trade Cabinet Secreatry Moses Kuria on July 15, 2023, revealed that he had authorised the importation of bar soaps following the decision by edible oil manufacturers to increase the prices of the basic commodity by 45 per cent.

In a statement, the CS alleged that the price hike was artificial. Most soaps are manufactured by cooking oil companies, which are currently embroiled in a dispute over importation of this household commodity from outside countries.

He claimed that the uptick in bar soap prices was aimed at frustrating the government following his ministry’s move to allow the importation of cooking oil.

Kuria maintained that the government would pull out stops to ensure that Kenyan consumers don’t bear the brunt of the differences between the companies and the government.

In what seemed like a calculated jab, the CS further likened the manufacturers to cartels.

Currently, a 1 kg all-purpose bar soap retails at Ksh210 on average with some even going for Ksh270 in supermarkets.

Kuria’s latest move comes barely a day after he also announced that the government would install cooking oil dispensers across the country.

According to the CS, the market was being monopolised. He justified the decision with the observation that most Kenyans cannot afford to buy cooking oil when packaged in 3-20 litre bottles.

“They have been selling oil in large quantities which are not compatible with the size of the pocket of the people.

“We are in the process of shipping the dispensers which will be named mama pima and will be rolled out all over the country even within our informal settlements,” Kuria revealed.

The row between Kuria and the cooking oil manufacturers began when the government allowed the importation of 125,000 metric tons of edible oil through the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC).

At the time, the CS stated that the move would lead to the reduction of cooking oil prices.