• The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) delegation visited the Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) headquarters, regional offices, and laboratory facilities from 8th – 20th September 2024.
• The visit marked the beginning of a project implemented under the Polish Aid programme.
• Market surveillance, artificial intelligence, dark patterns, and unsafe products - these are some of the topics we have discussed with the CAK.

The primary objective of the CAK delegation was to familiarize with the modus operandi of the Polish consumer protection and market surveillance system. The delegates participated in workshops, case studies, presentations, and job shadowing programs, observing the work of their Polish counterparts. The Kenyan officials visited the UOKiK headquarters in Warsaw, Laboratory in Łódź, UOKiK’s Poznań Branch, the Voivodeship Inspectorate of the Trade Inspection Authority in Gdańsk and the Gdynia Office of the National Revenue Administration. They expanded their knowledge about Polish and EU solutions regarding market surveillance, product safety, administrative proceedings, mystery shopping surveys, artificial intelligence, electronic identity documents, digital tools, communication with consumers, and alternative dispute resolution methods.

We are glad to have hosted the CAK delegation. We shared the methods of our work and the procedures we rely on to protect consumers and ensure product safety. It was a very busy time spent sharing our mutual experiences and interventions aimed at enhancing the welfare of consumers. It is noteworthy that a majority of the legal solutions and procedures in place in our countries are similar but with some unique and interesting distinctions. Our cooperation will enable both institutions to take advantage, in our everyday work, of the knowledge we have obtained.

On their part, the CAK delegation opined that for them to effectively deliver on the consumer protection mandate, it is important to pick and apply best practices, while tailor-making the solutions to our respective jurisdictions. As CAK’s representatives says: This cooperation has enabled us to challenge the existing practices to enhance consumer welfare in Kenya. We are grateful to the Polish Agency for this opportunity to build the capacity of the CAK’s case handlers. We look forward to hosting you in Kenya to share our experiences in consumer protection.

The visit marked the beginning of a project titled “Institutional Support for the Competition Authority of Kenya to Strengthen the consumer protection system”. It is part of the Polish Aid program overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented in cooperation with other governmental administration bodies - in this case with UOKiK. It aims to strengthen the CAK’s mandate delivery by providing consumer protection and market surveillance-related know-how.

The next phase of this Polish-Kenyan cooperation is scheduled for November 2024 when the Polish delegation including the representatives of UOKiK will visit Nairobi. During the visit, training sessions will be held presenting the market surveillance and consumer protection practices relied upon by the CAK, UOKiK, and the Polish Trade Inspection Authority.