The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) Director-General, David Kemei, has officially been sworn in as a commissioner of the East African Community Competition Authority (EACCA). The swearing-in ceremony took place on Tuesday at the East African Community (EAC) Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Kemei will serve a four-year term and was also elected as the interim chairperson of the EACCA. His appointment marks a significant step in enhancing regional cooperation in the enforcement of competition law within the East African bloc.
In his remarks following the ceremony, Kemei underscored the importance of harmonizing competition policies across EAC member states to foster fair markets and attract investment. “The issues we are facing as a bloc require a concerted and solution-based approach,” he noted, adding that his focus will be on promoting harmonized merger regimes, conducting joint investigations on anti-competitive practices and consumer rights violations, and strengthening capacity building initiatives across the region.
Kemei emphasized that regional integration comes with unique challenges that necessitate collaborative efforts among member states. “These challenges are best discussed and resolved through high-level representation from various administrative divisions of the Partner States’ governments, including the ministries of Trade and Industry,” he said. “Competition law matters are integral to these progressive deliberations.”
The EACCA is mandated to promote fair competition and protect consumer welfare within the region. It has the authority to investigate cross-border anti-competitive conduct, assess mergers with regional impact, and address consumer rights violations. Additionally, the authority works closely with national agencies to ensure policy harmonization, facilitated through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with national competition authorities such as those in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania.
Joining Kemei as newly sworn-in commissioners are Germain Ntawuyamara from Burundi and Emmanuel Mugabe from Rwanda. Their appointments bring the number of sitting EACCA commissioners to three, strengthening the authority’s ability to address competition issues on a regional scale.
The new leadership is expected to boost collaborative efforts aimed at ensuring a fair and competitive market environment across the East African region.
