By James Mutua
Competitive and fair markets are essential for driving economic growth, protecting consumers and supporting small businesses, speakers at the inaugural Research Conference on Competition and Consumer Welfare have said.
The two-day conference, organized by the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK), has brought together policymakers, researchers, legal experts and industry leaders under the theme “Promoting Competition and Consumer Welfare in Globalised and Dynamic Markets.”
Speaking during the opening ceremony, National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo said Kenya’s economic transformation agenda depends on markets that are fair, inclusive and accessible to all players.
He noted that anti-competitive practices continue to affect key sectors such as agriculture and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), limiting growth opportunities and increasing the cost of doing business.
“Competition is not just a regulatory concept. It is an economic policy instrument that directly shapes investment decisions, employment outcomes and the cost of living,” said Kiptoo.
The PS emphasized the need to address barriers to market entry, promote fair competition and eliminate bid-rigging in public procurement to ensure taxpayers receive value for money. He also reaffirmed the government’s support for CAK, including ongoing efforts to strengthen competition laws and develop a National Competition and Consumer Welfare Policy.
CAK Director-General David Kemei said competition policy plays a critical role in economic governance, innovation and consumer welfare, particularly as markets become increasingly digital and interconnected.
He highlighted several interventions by the Authority that have expanded access to mobile financial services, protected suppliers from abuse of buyer power and opened up opportunities in the agricultural sector.
According to Kemei, competition enforcement is about more than stopping anti-competitive conduct; it is about improving the lives of ordinary citizens through lower prices, better services, increased innovation and greater market access.
He also warned that digital markets present new challenges, including data concentration, algorithmic pricing and the growing influence of large technology platforms, calling for stronger regulatory capacity and regional cooperation.
CAK Board Chair Mr. Charles Mahinda said the Authority is currently implementing its Fourth Strategic Plan (2023–2027), which is aimed at strengthening enforcement tools and legal frameworks to keep pace with emerging market trends and global best practices. The plan also focuses on promoting transparency, predictability, and accountability in the delivery of the Authority’s mandate. He noted that these priorities align with the conference theme on promoting competition and consumer welfare in globalised and dynamic markets.
Mr. Mahinda further said the Authority has shifted from soft enforcement to hard enforcement, a position now firmly adopted by the Board, particularly in dealing with repeat offenders. He said the Authority has, over the past few years, dismantled four cartels that distorted markets, harmed consumers, and limited opportunities for SMEs.
He added that although violations of competition law have increased, the Authority has strengthened its response capacity. With support from the National Treasury, the CAK has invested in a forensic laboratory to enhance evidence analysis and improve the quality of enforcement decisions.
Mr. Mahinda also noted that the Competition Act has been reviewed four times to expand enforcement capacity, with the latest amendment currently before Parliament. He urged policymakers to fast-track its passage to enable the Authority to better regulate emerging digital markets.
The conference will examine issues around competition policy implementation, consumer protection in digital markets and regional collaboration in competition regulation. Participants are expected to discuss 21 research papers from experts across Kenya, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Speakers urged stakeholders to ensure research findings translate into practical policy reforms and enforcement measures that foster competitive markets, support businesses and enhance consumer welfare.
