The Department is responsible for the Planning, Policy, and Research roles. This is done through researching competition regulation issues and trends, corporate planning, and performance management, and the development of internal policies and analysis of external policies and legislation to ensure that they are pro-competitive. The department mainstreams knowledge management within the Authority by implementing various strategies to mainstream knowledge as an asset in mandate delivery. The department is in charge of competition advocacy which entails advocating for compliance with the Competition Act and advising the Government of Kenya, national and counties, on matters related to competition, including managing relationships with international and domestic stakeholders

Specifically, the department implements the following under the Competition Act; 

1. carry out inquiries, studies, and research into matters relating to competition and the protection of the interests of consumers;
2. study government policies, procedures and programs, legislation and proposals for legislation to assess their effects on competition and consumer welfare and publicize the results of such studies;
3. investigate policies, procedures, and programs of regulatory authorities to assess their effects on competition and consumer welfare and publicize the results of such studies;
4. participate in deliberations and proceedings of government, government commissions, regulatory authorities, and other bodies concerning competition and consumer welfare;
5. make representations to government, government commissions, regulatory authorities, and other bodies on matters relating to competition and consumer welfare;
6. liaise with regulatory bodies and other public bodies in all matters relating to competition and consumer welfare;
7. advise the government on matters relating to competition and consumer welfare