NAIROBI, Kenya, July 20 – The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) is investigating Naivas Supermarket following a complaint that a customer was charged more for a product than the price advertised.
The customer alleged that he bought a bottle of Hunter’s Choice at Naivas’ Thindigua branch for Sh1,120, despite the supermarket advertising the product on its Instagram page at Sh899.
The investigation comes as the authority steps up enforcement against misleading pricing and other unfair trade practices.
Under the Competition Act, companies found guilty of anti-competitive conduct, including price manipulation, can be fined up to 10 percent of their annual turnover, while individuals involved face fines of up to Sh10 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
CAK’s latest report also shows it recently handled similar complaints involving Quickmart and Carrefour supermarkets.
In one case, Daniel Kabata accused Carrefour of deceptive pricing after claiming products were sold at higher prices than those advertised in stores and on the retailer’s mobile application.
Following CAK’s intervention, the customer was refunded and the matter was closed.
In another case, Peter Longden complained that an aluminium clothes dryer displayed at Sh3,499 was charged at Sh7,890 at the checkout.
According to the authority, Carrefour corrected the pricing display and compensated the customer.
“Upon the intervention of the Authority, the accused corrected the display and redressed the complainant.”
