• There are a number of factors that influence the cost of living.
• There has been a great influence on the cost of living because of the exchange rate fluctuations.
• When the exchange rate is stable, it helps keep prices stable.

Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) says there is need to stabilize prices of essential commodities in the short term.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, JCTR Programs Manager Chama Mundia stated that this can be done by ensuring that the exchange rate is also stable.
Ms. Mundia noted that once the exchange rate stabilizes, there won’t be continued rise in the cost of both food and non-food but essential commodities.
“When it comes to the cost of living, there are a number of factors that influence the cost of living. Over the years what we have seen is that there has been a great influence on the cost of living because of the exchange rate fluctuations or volatility.”
“I wouldn’t say reducing the cost of living per say because price reductions are quite tricky downwards, but I think in terms of what we would want to call for is stabilization in the short term, by ensuring that the exchange rate is stable, because then that way it helps to keep prices stable and then we don’t see the continued rise in the cost of both food and non-food but essential items,” Ms. Mundia said.
Meanwhile, Ms. Mundia stated that there is also need to stabilize prices of farming inputs so that the cost of living does not escalate further.
“There is also the aspect of Agricultural produce. So you will note that for example the business environment is influenced by a number of factors specifically, when you are speaking to the cost of inputs, so we do import a larger part of our inputs in the agriculture sector and we do import also our petroleum products.”
“Seeing how we stabilize the cost of inputs would also be very helpful in ensuring that the cost of living does not continue to rise at the pace it has been rising so that a number of households can be able to afford the cost of living,” she stated.