These practices are not just limited to paint products.
Every day, consumers have to contend with companies and traders who resort to unethical practices to rob them.
The competition watchdog should extend its clampdown to other industries. It should be empowered more and given sufficient resources to widen its reach.
The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) has demonstrated commitment to consumer protection by calling out leading paint manufacturers for price fixing.
The competition watchdog revealed to Parliament that Crown Paints — the only listed paint maker in Kenya — Basco Products Limited, Kansai Plascon and Galaxy Paints were found guilty of price fixing and determining discounts for consumers.
The four breached Section 31 of the Competitions Act on restrictive trade practices that bar companies from colluding to determine product prices, setting minimum prices and determining when and whom to offer discounts — acts that hurt consumers and competitors.
These practices are not just limited to paint products. Every day, consumers have to contend with companies and traders who resort to unethical practices to rob them.
The competition watchdog should extend its clampdown to other industries. It should be empowered more and given sufficient resources to widen its reach. This could also reduce the time that the agency takes in handling complaints brought before it.
The competition agency started investigating the four companies in July 2018 after receiving allegations of the cartel-like practices between the paint makers and undisclosed distributors. The time could have been shortened if the agency had enough resources.
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