Lafarge denies monopoly in Kenya

Following the suggestion that Lafarge’s involvement in the Kenyan cement industry ‘flouts’ domestic competition rules, the company’s representative on the EAPCC board, Didier Tresarrieu, has said that none of the players dominate the industry and ‘there is therefore no possibility of abuse of a dominant position’. He said that newcomers to the market have ‘diluted’ Lafarge’s hold over the market.

Last week, we reported that antitrust authorities are investigating Lafarge over its 59% stake in Bamburi Cement and 42% stake in EAPCC. This is ongoing while shareholders and the government argue over ownership of the latter company, in which Kenya’s Treasury holds a 25% stake.

“We have seven players but the prices of cement do not reflect that sort of scenario,” said Francis Kariuki, Director General of the Competition Authority of Kenya.

Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/20052014/lafarge_denies_monopoly_in_kenya_223/