NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 21 – The fight against counterfeiting requires sustained engagement, public awareness and collaboration among government, businesses and consumers, stakeholders heard during a forum in Nairobi.
The message emerged at the Nairobi County Interactive Stakeholder Forum held at the Weston Hotel, which brought together officials from the Ministry of Industry, enforcement agencies, manufacturers, importers, SMEs, the jua kali sector, universities and private sector players to discuss market integrity and legitimate trade.
Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) Executive Director Dr Robi M. King’a said counterfeiting is an evolving challenge that cannot be addressed through enforcement alone.
“Awareness creation is not a one-off activity. It must be continuous and responsive to changes in markets and trade,” Dr King’a said, adding that counterfeit goods often flourish where awareness and information are limited.
He noted that empowering consumers and traders with accurate information helps reduce demand for counterfeit products, weakening illegal supply chains.
Dr King’a also highlighted Nairobi’s role as a key entry, transit and distribution hub, noting that interventions at the county level have a national impact on market integrity.
Principal Secretary in the State Department of Industry, Dr Juma Mukhwana, said the government remains focused on strengthening local manufacturing and job creation, warning that counterfeits undermine compliant businesses and discourage investment.
“Counterfeiting punishes legitimate enterprises and weakens efforts to grow local production,” Dr Mukhwana said.
The forum further emphasized the need to protect SMEs, traders and importers from unfair competition created by counterfeit and illicit goods, with participants noting that safeguarding legitimate trade supports economic growth rather than restricting business.
Discussions highlighted intellectual property rights recordation, compliance systems and intelligence-led enforcement as key tools in curbing counterfeit trade.
Participants called for closer cooperation between government institutions, enforcement agencies, industry players, academia and the informal sector to address the spread of counterfeit and substandard goods.
The forum concluded with calls for sustained partnerships to promote consumer protection, support investment and build confidence in locally produced goods.
