Lubezine Magazine Vol. 9 April - June 2014 | Page 29

investigation procedure to establish actual
cause of failure requires a lot of effort as you
need to carefully inspect the entire lubrication
system of the machinery to accurately establish the cause of the problem.

From your experience, what
comments can you make on the
lubricants industry in Kenya?
Well, my general observation is that the
market has a lot of competition.This is partly
due to unrestricted market access and the
absence of very strong regulation. Further,
I have observed that the Kenyan market is
characterized by very distinct market segments with unique needs that call for service
customization. On the other hand, market
growth is relatively slow and is largely driven
by the automotive sector. However, I am
seeing a notable improvement in market
knowledge regarding basic lubricant quality
and performance awareness among end users.

I also think that lot of the so-called blackmarket lubricants dealers are still in business
and control a considerable economic stake due
to covert and unholy collusions with some
corrupt law enforcement authorities that are
charged with the responsibility of containing
counterfeits.
Although it is difficult to eradicate the
malpractice totally, remedies such as better
legislation, effective counterfeit law enforcement and sustained consumer awareness
and publicity campaigns within the affected
market segments can be of great help.

What advice would you give
aspiring lubricants professionals out there?
My advice to them is that technical experi-

ence and training are important to differentiate in the highly competitive market
place.
They should also know that the lubricants business is very dynamic and with
that there are numerous opportunities for
career growth. There is a wide range of segments to explore and grow as a lubricants
professional.

What has changed in the lubricants industry over the