GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 787

PURSUANT to the provisions of section 18 (1) (a) of the Competition Act, 2010, it is notified for general information that the Competition Authority of Kenya intends to carry out a market inquiry into the branded retail sector. The main objective of the study is to assess the state of competition in the market for branded retail by examining the multilayered structure of the market and the conduct of market players. The market inquiry will explore the dimensions and the intensity of competition between branded retailers and how these impacts on price, quality and range of offerings to the Kenyan consumer. The study aims to— (a)map the average 'route to retailer' from producers or manufacturers to the retail shelves; (b)assess the level of competition and the determinants of the same including market power; (c)evaluate the allocation of shelf space and the relative bargaining power between retailers and their suppliers; (d)identify any regulatory constraints to competition; (e)establish the extent to which market allocation at the localized/sub-county level affects competition; (f)establish the nature of and the extent of exclusive agreements at one stop shop destinations and their effects on competition; (g)examine pricing strategies retailers employ especially in regards to responding to new entrants; (h)determine whether there are any strategic barriers to entry created by incumbent firms to limit entry in the market; (i)assess the competitiveness of local products against imports; (j)gauge the effect of the supermarkets branded products on competition; (k)scrutinize the prevalence of dual price displays (price at the shelve vis a vis the till) in retail settings and evaluate the time lag between changes in prices at the till relative to the shelve prices; (1) evaluate the frequency of sale of defective stock and establish the regulatory and internal mechanisms in place to stop the trend; 27th January, 2017 THE KENYA GAZETTE (m)assess the level of information asymmetry with specific regards to own labels, product constitution and the effect to consumers. (n)assess the effectiveness of consumer complaint handling mechanisms within the sector; (o)establish the proportion of retailers that have fully operational retail return policies and to what extent they are adhered to. In conducting the market inquiry, the Authority — (a)shall hold such number of meetings in such places and at such times as it may consider necessary for the proper discharge of its functions; and (b)may receive views from members of the public and receive oral and written submissions from any person with relevant information. Members of the public may, within twenty-one days of the publication of this notice, make oral or written submissions regarding the inquiry to the Secretariat of the inquiry. The Secretariat shall be based at the Authority's offices located at Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefit Scheme Block "D", 1st Floor, Haile Selassie Avenue P.O. Box 36265-00200 Nairobi. Email: info@cak.go.ke, Telephone; +254202628233. Dated the 12th January, 2017. WANG'OMBE KARIUKI, Director-General. GAZE! th NOTICE No. 788 THE POLITICAL PARTIES ACT (No. 11 of 2011) FULL REGISTRATION OF A POLITICAL PARTY IN EXERCISE of the power conferred by section 7 (4) of the Political Parties Act, 2011, the Registrar of Political Parties gives notice that the following political parties have applied for full registration under section 7 and 8 of the Act: Name Party Colours Party Symbol Ukweli Party (UP) Green, red, yellow, black, white U- shaped Green Sugarcane Empowerment and Liberation Party (ELF.) White and Royal Blue A ring with people holding hands in unison Any person with objections to the registration of the above political parties shall with'n 7 days make their written submissions to the Registrar of Political Parties. Further enquiries can be made through the Registrar's Offices, P.O. Box 1131-00606, Lion Place, Waiyaki Way, 1st Floor from 8.00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Dated the 20th January, 2017. LUCY K. NDUNGU, MR/2694888 Registrar of Political Parties.