House pushes for law to promote fair business

MPs pressed for the protection of local firms as the House concluded debate on a legislation to promote fair trade practices.

They said unfair competition from multi-nationals had driven indigenous companies out of business and occasioned job losses.

This emerged during debate on the Competition Bill, moved by Finance Assistant Minister Oburu Oginga.

Local Authorities Assistant Minister Lewis Nguyai seconded the Bill, stressing the need to regulate market players.

Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara said a competition law should be crafted.

Mr Imanyara, who is a lawyer, said he had presented Kenyan firms in court in suits involving harassment by foreign companies.

The defacing of billboards belonging to Keroche industries, a local alcohol manufacturer, was cited.

He added dumping of cheap imports in the domestic market undermined local industries.

The MP noted South Africa had a robust competition law that shielded their products.

"This legislation doesn’t have adequate provisions to protect local goods. Neither does it protect consumers against unfair trade practices as intended," he said.

It seeks to establish a Competition Authority, an autonomous regulatory agency with powers to check abuse.

The Bill proposes to do away with provisions relating to price controls and introduce provisions on abuse of dominance.

Planning Assistant Minister Peter Kenneth said even though the Bill was timely, the definition of control and trade needed to be refined.

The punitive measures, he added, needed to be reviewed, too, since the Bill prescribed a jail term "yet we are dealing with corporate bodies".

Others who supported the Bill were assistant ministers Kabando wa Kaban