Structure and performance of formal retail market for bamboo products in Kenya

This study focuses on the bamboo market segments in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu with the aim of addressing uncertainties in market structure and lack of concrete information on market potentials of the products. A stratified random sample of 20 branches of major supermarkets was conducted. The study revealed that most bamboo products are imported, a scenario that results in high product prices and low demand; thus the need to encourage domestic production of products. Conditions of imperfect competition with oligopolistic tendencies characterize the formal retail market. It is necessary to strengthen competition through consumer awareness and information dissemination