The National Assembly’s Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives has called on the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) to expedite its investigation into claims that multinational firms are unfairly sidelining local logistics companies in favour of foreign partners.

Speaking on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, during a high-stakes session held at Parliament Buildings, the Committee Chairperson, Benard Shinali (Ikolomani), expressed frustration over the slow pace of the inquiry, warning that justice delayed is justice denied for Kenyan businesses.

“We want this investigation concluded as soon as possible. This matter has dragged on for too long without a resolution,” Shinali said, directing the CAK to act with urgency.

The Committee’s renewed pressure comes after CAK Director General David Kemei appeared before the panel to provide an update.

Kemei informed MPs that the Authority had initially planned to complete its investigation by October 31, 2025.

However, the committee was far from satisfied with this timeline, citing public interest and the economic toll the matter is having on local businesses. Shinali and other committee members insisted that the issue had persisted for over a year, with no concrete outcomes.

Swift probe

The probe was prompted by a petition from the Kenya Transporters Association (KTA), which presented its grievances to the committee in early 2024.

In a meeting held on March 6, 2025, KTA Chairperson Newton Wang’oo alleged that multinational corporations operating in Kenya routinely exclude local transport and logistics providers from their supply chains.

“This alleged bias has caused significant financial losses for many Kenyan-owned transport and logistics companies,” Wang’oo told legislators at the time, igniting debate around economic protectionism and fair market access.

Faced with renewed scrutiny from lawmakers, Kemei revised his earlier deadline, promising to fast-track the process.

“Given the public interest and the committee’s request, the Authority will endeavour to conclude the investigation by September 30, 2025,” he assured the committee.

The legislators noted that such practices, if proven true, undermine Kenya’s goal of supporting indigenous entrepreneurship and developing local capacity in the logistics sector.

They called on the CAK to ensure that its findings are not only thorough but also lead to enforceable action against any firms found culpable.

Shinal said that as the countdown to the new deadline begins, industry players and stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether the CAK can deliver on its promise, and whether Parliament’s intervention will finally bring relief to struggling local businesses.

“This investigation could serve as a precedent-setting case in the fight to protect Kenyan enterprises from unfair competition by global giants,” he asserted.