David Kemei sworn in as East African Community Competition Authority commissioner

David Kemei, the Director-General of the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK), has been officially sworn in as a commissioner of the East African Community Competition Authority (EACCA).

His appointment, which spans four years, was formalized during a ceremony held on Tuesday at the East African Community (EAC) Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, where he was also elected as the interim chairperson of the regional watchdog.

Kemei emphasized that the new team of commissioners will strengthen collaboration among regulators within the EAC, recognizing that the bloc’s challenges require a united and pragmatic approach to finding solutions.

Representing Kenya as commissioner, David Kemei highlighted his key priorities: promoting harmonized merger regulations to streamline investments, conducting joint investigations into anti-competitive practices and consumer violations with regional impact, and strengthening cooperation in capacity building, market inquiries, and research.

"Regional integration faces many challenges, which is why they are addressed comprehensively with high-level involvement from various government sectors across Partner States, including Trade and Industry," Kemei stated.

"Competition law plays a crucial role in these important discussions."

The East African Community Competition Authority (EACCA) is tasked with fostering fair competition and protecting consumer interests within the EAC.

It holds authority to investigate cross-border anti-competitive behavior, evaluate mergers with regional significance, and address consumer violations.

EACCA also facilitates coordination among national agencies to harmonize policies, often through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with competition bodies in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda.

Joining Kemei as commissioners sworn in on Tuesday were Germain Ntawuyamara and Emmanuel Mugabe from Burundi and Rwanda, respectively, increasing the number of active commissioners to three.