Watchdog passes the buck to CBK in sweets-for-change row

The law requires that all monetary obligations or transactions entered into or made in Kenya be settled in Kenyan currency unless otherwise provided for by law or agreed upon between the parties. [Getty Images]

The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) has ducked the responsibility of protecting consumers against retailers that issue sweets and other alternatives for change. The consumer watchdog instead said the matter lies squarely within the ambit of the banking regulator - the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

Sweets are not legal tender, but some retailers have been faulted for "forcefully" issuing them and other products such as airtime and matchboxes to their customers in place of coins as change.