Mauritius Launches 'Ki Pri' App to Check Prices While You Shop

The Mauritian government has launched a free mobile application called Ki Pri, meaning 'What Price' in Mauritian Creole, designed to help consumers check whether the price of a product in a shop matches the legal maximum set by authorities.

The Council of Ministers, meeting on Friday 6 November, formally acknowledged the launch of Ki Pri, developed by the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection. The app targets a persistent problem in Mauritius: some retailers charging more than the government-regulated ceiling price on controlled goods, meaning shoppers end up paying more than they should.

Using the app is straightforward. A shopper scans the barcode of any product using their smartphone camera. Ki Pri then queries the Price Fixing and Information System, a government database that lists all registered and price-controlled products along with their maximum authorised retail prices. Within seconds, the app shows whether the price on the shelf or at the checkout is legal or inflated.

Mauritius operates a system of price controls and subsidy schemes on a range of essential goods, including basic foodstuffs and household staples. These regulations are meant to protect lower-income households from sharp price increases. However, enforcement has historically depended on inspectors physically visiting shops, which limits how often checks can realistically take place.

By putting a verification tool directly into the hands of ordinary shoppers, the Ministry of Commerce is effectively crowdsourcing price compliance monitoring. The idea is that if consumers can instantly spot an overcharge, retailers will have a much stronger incentive to comply.

What this means for shoppers and retailers: any Mauritian with an Android smartphone can now download Ki Pri from the Google Play Store and use it immediately when doing their weekly shopping. An iOS version for Apple devices is expected on the App Store shortly. For retailers, the app raises the stakes for non-compliance, since any customer in the aisle can now flag a pricing violation on the spot. For households already stretched by the cost of living, the app offers a practical way to avoid being overcharged on goods that are supposed to be affordable by law.

The launch comes against a backdrop of ongoing concern about inflation and consumer purchasing power in Mauritius, with analysts warning that price pressures could persist into 2026.

Source: ION News