The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has destroyed counterfeit goods worth KSh8 billion over the last 15 years, marking a major milestone in the country’s fight against illicit trade.

The Authority says the seizures and destruction of fake products ranging from pharmaceuticals and electronics to seeds, cosmetics and automotive parts are part of sustained efforts to protect consumers, safeguard legitimate businesses and shield the economy from billions in losses caused by counterfeit networks.

Speaking in Bungoma on Thursday, February 26 during a stakeholders’ sensitization forum, Henry Maina, deputy director research and policy at the ACA, said that they have organized for the stakeholders’ engagements in the regions to highlight the issue of counterfeits and how it affects Kenyans and different products and sectors.

“Counterfeiting hurts the economy, it affects consumers and also innovators so concerted efforts have to be made to help us change the tide,” he said.

He mentioned that Kenya is among the few countries in Sub-Saharan Africa that have a dedicated authority to combat counterfeiting.

He revealed that in the last 15 years, the authority has been able to seize goods valued at KSh8 billion plus, destroyed other goods worth KSh1.5 million as well as registered over 600 cases in court and won over 70 percent of the cases.

“We continue to warn Kenyans to shun counterfeiting and counterfeit products, because a part from affecting the economy and innovators most counterfeits are made from products ought not to come in contact with human body or to be injected therefore have a public hazard that may be not cured,” he said.

He said that in partnership with law enforcement agencies, the ACA has strengthened cross-border collaboration within the East African region to curb the flow of counterfeit goods.

Through joint operations, intelligence sharing frameworks and coordinated surveillance at key entry points, the Authority is working closely with customs officials, police units and regulatory bodies in neighbouring countries to track supply chains and dismantle smuggling networks.

He added that the regional approach has enhanced real-time information exchange on suspected shipments, counterfeit brands and trafficking routes, making it harder for illicit traders to exploit porous borders within the East African Community bloc.

Further, he said the ACA has rolled out an enhanced import permit processing system at the port of entry to tighten scrutiny of goods before they enter the market.

Under the new measures, all consignments from outside the country undergo early-stage scanning and document verification, with importers required to make detailed declarations on the nature, origin and ownership of their products.

Where consignments are flagged as high-risk, the authority isolates specific containers for comprehensive physical inspection in collaboration with customs and other enforcement agencies.

“Whether those goods are destined for Kenya or neighbouring countries, once inspected and found to be counterfeit, the authority will ensure safe transit by escorting them to the respective countries and handing them over to their law enforcement agencies for action,” Maina noted.

He added “We do this because we do not want Kenya to be perceived as creating trade barriers but at the same time we must protect consumers and legitimate traders from harmful counterfeit products,”

He cited electronics and energy products, mobile phone gadgets and accessories, textiles and apparel as well as alcoholic beverages, as some of the commodities most prone to counterfeiting in the Western region.

He added that agricultural inputs have also emerged as a growing concern.

“In Bungoma and Kakamega counties, we are recording rising cases of counterfeit fertilisers and seeds, especially during the planting season when farmers are most vulnerable,” he said, warning that fake farm inputs not only cause financial losses to farmers but also threaten food security.

Automotive spare parts, he added, are also increasingly being targeted in the Western region, posing safety risks to motorists.

Bungoma County Commissioner Thomas Sankei, who attended the sensitization forum, lauded the authority’s proactive enforcement and public awareness initiatives.

He said such engagements are critical in mobilizing communities, traders and stakeholders to collectively combat illicit trade, particularly in border counties that are often used as transit routes for counterfeit goods.

The authority has also partnered with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) sensitizing journalists on the importance of highlighting counterfeit stories. MCK Nyanza/ Western region coordinator Evans Teddy is leading the initiative.

“We recognize that the media plays a critical role in shaping public awareness and accountability,” said Evans Teddy, Nyanza/Western Region Coordinator at the Media Council of Kenya.

He added “By equipping journalists with the right knowledge and information on counterfeit trade, we are strengthening investigative reporting and ensuring that stories exposing fake products, illicit networks and their impact on consumers reach the public accurately and consistently. An informed media is a powerful ally in the fight against counterfeits,”