By CHRISTABEL LIGAMI
In Summary
- The position will be re-advertised after first round failed to attract suitable candidates.
- The EAC Competition Authority was expected to be fully operational in January this year.
- The registrar’s role will be to oversee all activities of the body, including the enforcement of laws that protect and promote free and fair competition among businesses with a cross-border presence.
The East African Community has been unable to fill the
position of a registrar of the regional competition authority, six
months after a budget was approved to operationalise the office.
The EAC Competition Authority was expected to be fully
operational in July this year following the approval of a $701,530
six-month budget from January 2016. But the Secretariat has been unable
to get the right candidate from the partner states to fill in the
position after qualified candidates failed to apply.
“The EAC Secretariat is unable to get a qualified person
recruited as registrar,” said Peter Kiguta, Director General for Trade
and Customs matters at the EAC.
“The position has to be re-advertised,” he added.
The registrar’s role will be to oversee all activities of the
body, including the enforcement of laws that protect and promote free
and fair competition among businesses with a cross-border presence.
The EAC Competition Authority is expected to control or
eliminate restrictive measures on companies seeking to invest in other
partner states and control mergers and acquisitions as well as the abuse
of dominant positions of market power.
Already, five commissioners from each partner state have been
appointed and sworn in. They are Innocent Habarugira (Burundi), Francis
Kariuki (Kenya), Frederick Ringo (Tanzania), Didas Kayihura (Rwanda)
and Sam Watasa (Uganda).
Other positions already filled are director of Mergers and
Acquisitions, Director of Monopolies and Cartels, Director of Consumer
Protection and Director of Corporate Affairs.
The registrar’s office is expected to have five members made up of the chief registrar, two deputies and advisors.
According to Wang’ombe Kariuki, director-general of the
Competition Authority of Kenya, a commissioner to the EAC Competition
Authority, the regional authority will be an independent institution
operating under the EAC dealing with cross border trade issues.
Tanzania and Kenya have fully functioning independent
competition authorities. Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya have
competition laws in place while Uganda has a draft law.
“Currently, many cross-border anti-competitive practices are
going unchecked due to the absence of an overall regional body to deal
with cross-border competition, leaving weaker market players and
consumers exposed to unfair business conduct by dominant firms,” said Mr
Kiguta adding that although the EAC competition regulations were
adopted in 2010, some government policies and practices encourage
anti-competitive outcomes.
Already, an EAC Competition Act, 2006 is in place and seeks to
allow consumers to take class action against goods or services
providers. It also seeks to seal loopholes that enable trade
associations and firms operating across the region to engage in
exclusive agreements, or form cartels, forcing consumers to pay higher
prices for goods and services.
The Authority is an independent organ of EAC but subject to
judicial review by the East Africa Court of Justice. It is mandated to
develop appropriate procedures for public sensitisation, consultation
and participation.
Competition advocacy will entail providing information to
citizens and businesses on competition whereas consultation will involve
asking stakeholders for comments and advice regarding the Authority’s
enforcement practice and on matters it intends to regulate.In relation to participation, the Authority is expected to provide
partner states with comments and advice relating to the compatibility of
their regulatory.
No comments:
Post a Comment