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Cigarettes, medicine and personal care products most counterfeited in Kenya
A police officer inspects cartons of counterfeit cigarettes seized by the Kenya Revenue Authority at a private residence in Barnabas Estate, Nakuru County. The contraband is valued at an estimated Sh10 million.
Cigarettes, antibiotics and antimalarial medicine, personal and skin care products and pesticides are the most counterfeited products in the country, a new report has revealed, raising concerns about revenue leaks and health as well as safety risks.
A new report launched by the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) revealed widespread circulation of counterfeit goods in key consumer segments such as agriculture, pharmaceutical, alcohol, cosmetics, and electronics.
Counterfeiting in tobacco sector is most prevalent in cigarettes, which accounted for 89.47 percent of total responses among surveyed consumers.
“Antibiotics and anti-malaria drugs account for 89.28 percent of counterfeited products, posing significant risks to public health by compromising treatment efficacy and patient safety,” said the anti-counterfeits watchdog.
Agriculture was the most affected sector, with 89.16 percent of respondents identifying pesticides and herbicides as commonly counterfeited, followed by automotive spare parts at 81.89 percent.
Kenyans are also unknowingly buying poor quality cosmetics, toothpaste, tissues, diapers, shampoos, and artificial hair and hair products which account for 88.32 percent of fakes.
Eight in 10 (81.89 percent) respondents pointed to four-wheeler spare parts as the most forged items in the automotive sector. In the agriculture sector, more than half of the respondents said that fertilisers (54.29 percent) and animal feeds (45.6 percent) were not standardised. Seeds (34.9 percent) and equipment (13.66 percent) were also affected.
“The prevalence of counterfeit agrochemicals threatens food security and the livelihoods of farmers. Strengthened regulations, increased penalties, and public awareness campaigns are necessary to mitigate the impact of counterfeiting in this critical sector,” said ACA.
Respondents reported safety concerns over counterfeited non-alcoholic drinks accounting for three quarters (75.89 percent) of the fake items.
“The alcoholic drinks sector faces significant counterfeiting challenges, posing risks to both consumer safety and market integrity... Wine is the most counterfeited product, accounting for 50.12 percent of total instances, followed by beer at 47.44 percent,” added ACA.
Other copied beverages include whiskey (42.68 percent), vodka (36.95 percent), rum (32.44 percent), and tequila (28.41 percent) highlighting the prevalence of counterfeit alternatives that pose health hazards.
The report adds that, “gin (23.05 percent), brandy (19.27 percent), and liqueurs (11.71 percent) are less frequently counterfeited, the presence of craft spirits (11.22 percent) reveals vulnerabilities within niche markets.”
“These high rates of counterfeiting threaten not only consumer safety but also legitimate businesses, emphasising the need for stronger regulatory measures, heightened consumer awareness, and collaboration among stakeholders to combat counterfeiting in the alcoholic beverages market.”
Others are buying fake paint and resins (64.39 percent), foam mattresses (49.28 percent), adhesives and sealants (45.68 percent), industrial cleaning agents (44.96 percent), air fresheners (36.69 percent), and water treatment chemicals (31.65 percent).
Forged electronics such as smartphones and laptops also dominate other forged electricals including cables resulting in high risks of fires and petroleum products posing a high risk of engine damage.
These products are mainly associated with China.
“Most respondents associate China with the origin of counterfeit goods, reflecting perceptions of manufacturing quality. Other countries mentioned include Turkey, Japan, and Tanzania, with some respondents also indicating uncertainty about product origins,” added ACA.
The survey was conducted in August last year by the Authority and the KCA University, targeting 2,185 people from eight counties including Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru, Nyeri, Machakos, Kisumu, Garissa, and Busia.
ACA identified several transit points for counterfeiting trade, including Hong Kong (China), Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, handling trade in counterfeit goods.
Consumer experiences indicated that 60.48 percent of respondents had purchased counterfeit goods, often unknowingly with some key distributors being street sellers (59.37 percent) and shops (54.42 percent), with online platforms (31.27 percent) emerging as a growing distribution channel.
The motivation behind purchasing fake goods was their affordability making them attractive to consumers, the desire to project a certain social status without bearing the total cost of genuine luxury items while others view it as a way to "beat the system" or challenge high prices imposed by international brands.
Other reasons were the inability to distinguish between the fake and the genuine products.
