Time flies with great content! Renew in to keep enjoying all our premium content.
Charles Mahinda takes over as CAK chair, Shaka Kariuki exits
Shaka Kariuki (left) hands over the chairmanship of the Competition Authority of Kenya to Charles Mahinda following the end of his term on February 6, 2026.
Veteran civil servant Charles Mahinda has taken over the leadership of the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) as chairperson following his appointment by President William Ruto in December. He replaces Shaka Kariuki, whose term has ended.
Mr Mahinda will serve in the non-executive role for three years, convening and leading board meetings that shape anti-trust regulation and consumer protection policy in the country.
“He brings to the authority over three decades of distinguished experience in, among other areas, industrial development, international trade and public policy formulation within the government of Kenya and regional institutions,” the regulator said.
Before his appointment, Mr Mahinda served as a technical adviser to the Cabinet Secretaries for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, and for Trade and Industry. He also previously worked as director of industries at the ministry.
He was the founding chief executive of the Special Economic Zones Authority and is credited with playing a central role in the development of key policies for Kenya and the East African Community, including the Industrial Masterplan and the Industrialisation Framework.
“His leadership contributed positively towards enhancing Kenya’s competitiveness and industrial growth, including as a member of the national standing committee on trade negotiations, where he championed improved market access for Kenyan goods in regional and global markets,” the CAK said.
Mr Kariuki, the outgoing chairperson, assumed the role in February 2023 after President Ruto revoked the appointment of his predecessor, Nelson Ndirangu, who had served since 2019.
CAK credited Mr Kariuki’s tenure with driving meaningful interventions across several sectors that helped boost market competitiveness and consumer welfare.
“Mr Kariuki spearheaded improved oversight measures aimed at ensuring accountable and transparent expenditure of the authority’s resources, including prioritising enterprise risk management and business continuity,” the regulator said.
His time at the helm also saw revisions to the Competition Act to strengthen enforcement, particularly in digital markets, which had previously fallen outside the regulator’s remit.
Before joining CAK, Mr Kariuki served on several boards as a director and chair, including TransCentury, Desert First Credit Union and NAS Foods in Ethiopia. He is also the co-chief executive of Kurano Capital, a firm he founded.
