Kenya loses an estimated Sh800 billion every year to the illicit trade of counterfeit goods, with nearly one in every five products circulating on the local market potentially fake. The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) issued the stark warning, highlighting growing risks to public safety, consumer health, and the integrity of commercial markets.
The alarm follows a series of widespread multi-agency enforcement crackdowns targeting illicit items. Inspections across the country have impounded illicit consignments spanning alcoholic beverages, personal care items, maize flour, cooking oil, and agricultural inputs such as substandard fertilizer.
Speaking at a breakfast forum on combating counterfeit trade in Kenya held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi’s Upper Hill district, ACA Director of Research, Policy, Planning, and Public Awareness Dr. John Akoten underscored that the crisis extends far beyond the financial balance sheets of businesses.
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of ACA Executive Director Robi M. King’a, Akoten pointed out that fake fertilizers and compromised seeds threaten farm yields and national food security, while illicit alcohol and falsified medicines carry deadly consequences.
The ACA’s 2025 Consumer-Level Survey revealed that close to 20 percent of commodities in the Kenyan supply chain could be fake, draining Sh800 billion from the economy annually.
To counter the influx, Akoten called on manufacturers, importers, and brand owners to register their intellectual property rights directly with the authority. He described early recordation as “the cheapest insurance a brand can buy in this market.”
Verification Tools and Practical Enforcement
The ACA highlighted digital product passports, mobile authentication codes, and supply chain traceability technologies as modern tools that allow everyday consumers to verify product authenticity using their smartphones.
However, Akoten noted that digital safeguards alone cannot solve the problem without real-world action. He stressed that verification platforms require swift legal action, robust regulatory enforcement, and active public education.
“A hologram does not arrest anyone and a QR code does not prosecute anyone,” the address stated, driving home the necessity for law enforcement personnel to actively pursue and prosecute counterfeiters.
The industry forum was organized jointly by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce for Eastern Africa (AHK Eastern Africa) and Authentic Network GmbH. AHK Eastern Africa General Manager Christian Engels attended the session alongside regional private sector executives.
Streamlining Legitimate Trade Measures
Alongside enforcement drives, the ACA showcased several ongoing initiatives designed to support legitimate businesses and speed up supply chains.
Importers can now process import permits online via the KenTrade Single Window system. Additionally, compliant importers benefit from accelerated customs clearance arrangements through a joint recognition framework established between the ACA and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
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