By News Desk
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK), Mr. David Kibet Kemei, has announced a KSh 45 million initiative aimed at intensifying the fight against cartels and anti-competitive business practices that continue to undermine fair competition and exploit consumers.
Speaking during a Research Conference on Competition and Consumer Welfare in Nairobi, Mr. Kemei said the Authority will deploy the funds to strengthen market surveillance, enhance investigations, and bolster enforcement actions against firms and individuals engaged in anti-competitive conduct such as price fixing, bid rigging, market allocation, and abuse of market dominance.
The initiative forms part of CAK’s broader strategy to safeguard consumer welfare and promote a competitive business environment that encourages innovation, efficiency, and economic growth.
“Cartels remain one of the biggest threats to competitive markets and consumer welfare. The Authority is committed to ensuring that businesses compete fairly and that consumers receive quality goods and services at competitive prices,” said Mr. Kemei.
He noted that the KSh 45 million allocation will improve the Authority’s investigative capacity, facilitate research-driven enforcement, and support the prosecution of offenders found violating competition laws.
Mr. Kemei emphasized that robust competition is critical for Kenya’s economic development, attracting investment, creating jobs, and lowering the cost of doing business. He added that the Authority will continue working closely with stakeholders, policymakers, researchers, and consumers to identify and dismantle anti-competitive networks across key sectors of the economy.
The Director-General further urged businesses to comply with competition regulations and warned that firms engaging in cartel activities would face severe penalties under the Competition Act.
The conference brought together regulators, academics, industry leaders, consumer advocates, and policymakers to discuss emerging trends in competition law and consumer protection, as well as the role of evidence-based research in shaping effective market regulation.
As the Authority strengthens its enforcement efforts, consumers are expected to benefit from fairer pricing, greater product choice, improved service quality, and enhanced market transparency.
