David Kemei appointed CAK Director-General

The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) has announced the appointment of David Kemei as its Director-General effective October 7.

Kemei becomes the competition watchdog’s second DG after joint vetting and approval by the National Assembly and the Senate.

He boasts over 30 years of experience in the regulatory, financial, academia, health, tourism, energy, commercial and corporate governance sectors – fifteen of which have been in senior leadership roles.

“Mr Kemei’s skillset, which includes corporate and financial management, accounting, project implementation, resource mobilisation, collaboration with global agencies, and stakeholder management, will be invaluable to the Authority as we strive to ensure that our markets work efficiently for consumers and spur economic growth,” Shaka Kariuki, chairman of the CAK board said in a statement on Monday.

The new CAK boss holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Nairobi. Kemei attended Kapsabet High School in Nandi County, where he schooled with President William Ruto. 

He previously worked at DGMB Training Solutions, the Electricity Regulatory Board (now the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority), Nation Media Group, Windsor Golf Hotels and Country Club, and Kenya Shell (now Vivo Energy).

Additionally, Kemei has served as a chairperson and director at Kenya Reinsurance Corporation, Zep Re, Kenya Medical Training College, and chair of the audit committee at the Commission for Revenue Allocation. He has also lectured at five universities.

Kariuki was appointed in January 2013 as the first CAK DG, serving for two five-year terms.

CAK's mandate is to promote and safeguard competition in Kenya and protect consumers from unfair and misleading market conduct.

The authority is responsible for the prevention of anti-competitive practices in the economy, the removal of constraints on the free play of competition in the market, and the protection of consumer rights using investigation, prohibition and control of unfair business practices.

He said he would ensure local companies are protected while also giving foreign counterparts a chance to challenge them to provide better services.