Industrialization CS Aden Mohammed. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
Counterfeited goods and chattels worth Sh70 million have been apprehended in December alone citing that some of the declared items do not correspond with what is actually released into the market. More foreigners in the country are engaged in the importation of counterfeit products.
“We have been doing this but now we are going to be strict. Those with counterfeited items will face the full consequences of harming Kenyans’ lives. All containers at the port will be subjected to a full inspection by ACA to determine legit and counterfeited products,” said cabinet secretary for trade and industry Adan Mohamed.
So far, 10 people have been arrested in connection with the illegal transaction of counterfeited products into the country while there exist 62 pending cases being processed in court.
The ministry currently estimates that counterfeited products currently in stores could be Sh800 million. This comes a week after an undercover operation that led to the arrest of six individuals in Laare town in Meru county.
Anti-Counterfeiting Agency (ACA) officers recovered 11 Rolls of 25,000 pieces Kenya Revenue Authority stamps worth Sh27 million during the crackdown.
Mohamed said from January, there will be monthly crackdown exercises and companies and individuals found culpable will be made public and taken to court. There has been an increase in reporting of counterfeiting activity in the country with well-known brand names being the target of counterfeiters.