David Kemei, the Director-General of the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK), has assumed a critical role in shaping the regional economic landscape after being appointed as interim chairperson of the Board of the East African Community Competition Authority (EACCA) and concurrently confirmed as Commissioner for a four-year term.

The announcement was made following a swearing-in ceremony held in Arusha, Tanzania, where Kemei formally took up his dual responsibilities.

His appointment marks a significant step in bolstering cooperation on fair trade practices among member states of the East African Community (EAC), as confirmed in a statement by the CAK.

Kemei, while addressing stakeholders during the inauguration, underscored the strategic importance of enforcing competition laws across borders to spur development and protect consumers.

“Effective competition law enforcement is a central pillar in unlocking economic growth, attracting investments, and safeguarding the interests of consumers at the national and regional level,” he stated.

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He further acknowledged the hurdles facing integration efforts within the region, emphasising the need for constructive engagement across partner states.

“Regional integration has its fair share of challenges. That is why these matters must be addressed through collaborative, solution-oriented dialogue involving key administrative stakeholders from partner states,” he added.

Established under Article 9(2) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC and Section 37 of the EAC Competition Act, 2006, the EACCA is tasked with promoting a level playing field for businesses, enhancing consumer protection, and facilitating the seamless flow of goods and services across national borders.

The authority is empowered to investigate anti-competitive conduct with cross-border implications, evaluate mergers with regional impact, and tackle violations that affect consumer rights.

Kemei will be instrumental in harmonising competition laws within the region.

His portfolio will include overseeing the alignment of merger control regimes to ease the investment environment, spearheading joint investigations into market abuses, and strengthening cooperation in regional market analysis and regulatory capacity development.

EACCA has previously laid the groundwork for integrated enforcement by signing Memoranda of Understanding with competition authorities in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

Kemei’s leadership is expected to reinforce these collaborations, enabling more cohesive policymaking and enforcement across the bloc.