MPs Support Strategic Goods Bill as Tool to Boost Revenue, Enhance Security

By Mbungu Harrison

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Members of Parliament have expressed support for the proposed Strategic Goods Control Bill 2026 saying it has the potential to boost government revenue, strengthen national security and streamline trade.

The National Assembly departmental committee on administration and internal security on Friday, May 5, 2026 conducted a public participation exercise in Mombasa to collect views on the proposed legislation, officially known as the Strategic Goods Control Bill, 2026 (National Assembly Bill No. 15 of 2026).

The committee, led by its vice-chairperson and Saku MP Ali Raso Dido said the proposed law sought to establish a framework for regulating strategic goods entering and leaving the country, while ensuring that trade activities are not disrupted.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the public participation forum, the MP said the committee was receiving encouraging feedback from stakeholders and members of the public adding that all views would be considered before the Bill was debated and enacted.

He noted that while the legislation is intended to strengthen oversight of strategic goods and safeguard national interests, Parliament was keen to ensure that the law does not create unnecessary barriers to trade or favour a few players in the market.

“We must provide safeguards to ensure the bill does not create monopoly in the trade industry,” he said.

The legislator said the committee was committed to ensuring that concerns raised by traders, industry players and wananchi are reflected in the final amendments to the Bill.

“We must ensure all the voices given by residents are factored in the bill. We must ensure that the law will not slow trade nor create monopoly, we also want to ensure that there is no one affected badly by the bill.”

The proposed legislation comes at a time when the government is seeking to tighten controls on goods considered strategic to the country’s security and economic stability, while at the same time promoting efficient cross-border trade and investment.

The lawmaker said the committee was working within the stipulated timelines to ensure the Bill adequately addresses security concerns while protecting Kenya’s economic interests.

“He said the committee is within the timelines to ensure the law captures all the views and Kenyans national interest before being enacted into a law,” said Dido.

Stakeholders who attended the Mombasa forum urged lawmakers to strike a balance between national security requirements and facilitating trade, warning against provisions that could increase the cost of doing business or create monopolistic practices.

The committee is expected to continue receiving submissions from various stakeholders before preparing its report to the National Assembly for consideration and possible amendments ahead of the Bill’s passage.