The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) has declared the appointment of David Kemei as its new Director-General, a position he will officially assume on October 7. Kemei becomes the second individual to serve in this role, following a thorough vetting process and subsequent approval by both the National Assembly and the Senate. He brings with him more than 30 years of diverse experience across multiple sectors, including regulatory affairs, finance, academia, health, tourism, energy, commerce, and corporate governance, with 15 of those years spent in senior leadership positions.
“Mr. Kemei’s diverse expertise in corporate and financial management, accounting, project execution, resource mobilization, collaboration with international organizations, and stakeholder engagement will be a tremendous asset to the Authority. This will help us enhance market efficiency for consumers and drive economic growth,” stated Shaka Kariuki, chairman of the CAK board, in a press release on Monday.
The newly appointed head of CAK possesses an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Nairobi. He completed his high school education at Kapsabet High School in Nandi County, where he was a classmate of President William Ruto. Kemei’s professional experience includes roles at DGMB Training Solutions, the Electricity Regulatory Board (now known as the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority), Nation Media Group, Windsor Golf Hotels and Country Club, and Kenya Shell (now Vivo Energy). Moreover, Kemei has held positions as chairperson and director at various organizations including Kenya Reinsurance Corporation, Zep Re, and Kenya Medical Training College, in addition to serving as chair of the audit committee at the Commission for Revenue Allocation. He has also been involved in academia, lecturing at five different universities.
Since January 2023, Adano Wario has served as the acting Director-General of CAK following the expiration of Wang’ombe Kariuki’s tenure. Kariuki, who was the inaugural Director-General of CAK, held the position from January 2013 for two consecutive five-year terms.
The mandate of CAK is to foster competition within Kenya and safeguard consumer interests against unfair and deceptive market practices. The Authority is tasked with preventing anti-competitive behavior in the economy, lifting barriers to free competition, and ensuring consumer rights are protected through investigations, prohibitions, and the regulation of unfair business conduct.
As part of his vetting process, Kemei has committed to tackling various issues, including the controversy regarding the entry of American satellite internet provider Starlink into the Kenyan market, should he be confirmed as head of CAK. He emphasized his dedication to ensuring the protection of local businesses while also allowing foreign firms the opportunity to compete and improve service delivery.”
