This archive report was first published on 30 June 2021.
On February 17, 2010, beer bottles rolled on a conveyor belt at the East African Breweries Ruaraka factory in Nairobi, Kenya.
Today, some of the world's biggest alcoholic beverage manufacturers selling their products in Kenya and the region are under scrutiny for practices that hinder cross-border trade.
The Comesa Competition Commission is investigating whether these companies have violated the rules set for trading within the Common Market for Eastern and South Africa (Comesa) region.
The companies being probed include Diageo, majority shareholder in East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), AB InBev, Castel, and Heineken.
According to the Comesa competition watchdog, these companies have put in place structures that focus on marketing their products within a country, confining dealers and other partners to a particular country and hindering the deepening of trade within Comesa.
The Comesa Competition Commission has invited members of the public from across Comesa to give their views on the issues.
“Notice is hereby given to interested stakeholders and the general public that pursuant to Article 22 of the Comesa Competition Regulations, the Comesa Competition Commission has commenced investigations into potential violations of Articles 16 and 19 of the regulations by beer manufacturing companies operating in the Common Market, namely AB InBev, Castel, Diageo and Heineken,” said the Competition Commission.
