Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi

The papers presented here were prepared for a Workshop on Price and Marketing Controls in Kenya, held at the Institute for Development Studies from 26 to 29 March 1979. The purpose of the workshop was to evaluate price and marketing controls in Kenya, and bring together parties influencing and/or affected by the price and marketing control policies. The first part of the workshop was devoted to a search for a theoretical framework for analysing price and marketing controls, including illegal activities which frustrate the objectives of those policies. A paper by the Central Bureau of Statistics outlines consumer price data collection in rural and urban areas and how price controls affect the accuracy of the cost of living indices. Position papers from the Trade Onion movement, the manufacturers' association, the Kenya Consumers' Organisation and the Chamber of Commerce show the conflict of interests and diversity of views on price and marketing control policy. Other papers cover domestic price effects of industrial protection, an evaluation of the role and performance of marketing boards, and price control on manufactures, milk, maize, meat, wages, and rents. The introduction to the workshop papers outlines the theme emerging from the papers and the policy implications, and draws heavily from the discussion in the workshop.