NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 1 — The Competition Authority of Kenya has conducted simultaneous raids on the premises of six major foam mattress manufacturers and distributors in four counties as part of an investigation into suspected anti-competitive practices in the sector.The unannounced inspections were carried out in businesses located in Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu and Kisumu, the regulator said in a statement on Tuesday.During the operations, investigators retrieved electronic and physical materials for forensic analysis, including hard disks, thumb drives, laptops, mobile phones, management reports and sales records.The authority said the searches were conducted under powers granted by Sections 31 and 32 of the Competition Act, which allow officials to enter premises and inspect documents or goods believed to contain information relevant to investigations into restrictive trade practices.Such practices may include abuse of market dominance, collusive tendering, price fixing, and market or customer allocation.According to the regulator, the dawn raids are intended to secure credible evidence that could be concealed, destroyed or altered if prior notice were given.The authority emphasized that the inspections do not constitute proof of wrongdoing but form part of an ongoing inquiry.The probe into the foam mattress sector follows market surveillance that pointed to suspected coordinated conduct of a cartel nature among competing firms.“Foam mattresses are an essential household commodity used by millions of Kenyan consumers. Our intervention seeks to establish whether collusive practices are undermining the affordability and accessibility of these products for ordinary households,” said David Kemei, Director-General of the Competition Authority.The regulator said it ensured that the rights of the businesses involved were respected during the searches, including allowing access to legal representation, while also taking steps to minimize disruption to normal operations.Under the Competition Act, there is no statutory deadline for concluding investigations into anti-competitive conduct, with the duration depending on factors such as the number of parties involved, their level of cooperation, and the volume and complexity of records under review.However, the authority said it is obligated under the Constitution to ensure investigations are handled in a manner that is expeditious, efficient, lawful and procedurally fair.Once the evidence collected from the inspections is reviewed, the authority will determine the next course of action in line with its procedures.Parties involved will also be given an opportunity to make oral and written submissions before any final decision is reached.If violations of the Competition Act are established, the authority may order companies to cease the unlawful conduct and implement corrective measures.Firms found culpable may also face financial penalties of up to 10 percent of their gross annual turnover.Kemei said the investigation is expected to take several months to conclude.The authority also invited members of the public with information on suspected anti-competitive practices in any sector to report the matter to the regulator.