Questions the Federation is asked

The Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) is Kenya's independent, self-funded, multi-sectorial, non-political and apex non-profit Federation committed to consumer protection, education, research, consultancy, litigation, anti-counterfeits campaign and business rating on consumerism and customer-care issues.

COFEK was registered on 26 March 2010. It works towards a fair, just and safe marketplace for all Kenyan and regional consumers in all sectors of the economy.

Its mandate is drawn from Article 46 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, the Consumer Protection Act 2012 and the Competition Act, Cap 504, among other statutes. That framework provides high thresholds for consumer protection in all spheres, for both the private and public sectors.

No. COFEK is an independent, non-political federation. It is, however, a founder Chair of the Government-run Kenya Consumer Protection Advisory Committee (Kecopac).

Article 46 of the Constitution gives consumers the right to goods and services of reasonable quality; to the information necessary for them to gain full benefit from goods and services; to the protection of their health, safety and economic interests; and to compensation for loss or injury arising from defects in goods or services.

Membership is open to individuals and select bodies — associations, NGOs, CBOs, SMEs and even large corporates.

Only those who join as individual members are eligible to vote at the Federation's Special and Annual General Meetings.

Membership is by invitation and/or application for individuals who do not present potential conflict of interest with the Federation's objects and memorandum.

COFEK states that membership benefits are offered at very competitive rates but does not publish a rate card. Contact the Secretariat at hotline@cofek.africa for current rates.

Networking with peers and eligibility to be recommended for appointment on various parastatal boards; business opportunities; learning and technical exchanges; the public-interest litigation outputs; and participation in consumer research, information, education and communication work as well as publications.

COFEK and the Management University of Africa (MUA) run a non-residential three-day certificate course on Consumer Protection and Management.

The experiential training is designed to equip participants with the necessary capacity to manage and proactively deal with consumer complaints as relates to the Consumer Protection Act, 2012 and Article 46 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.

Download the certificate course registration form, complete and sign it, and send the signed form to hotline@cofek.africa.

Call 0715 555 550 or 0733 180 008, or email hotline@cofek.africa. The office is at Rehema Place, Block F-45, Ngong Road / Ring Road, Kilimani Junction, Nairobi; P.O. Box 28053-00200, City Square, Nairobi.

Write to the Secretariat at hotline@cofek.africa. If your question concerns a specific supplier or transaction, send it through the complaints route instead so it reaches a case officer rather than the general inbox.