The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has announced a nationwide crackdown targeting fake goods after a reported rise in substandard products in the country.
While revealing the new development, KEBS North Rift Manager Vincent Cheruiyot noted that the regulator will conduct inspections across all border points in the country to curb the entry of fake goods.
Cheruiyot disclosed that the rise in the presence of substandard goods was due to the porous borders, where checks by authorities were not up to the required standards.
The senior KEBS official affirmed that the Bureau would camp across the border points, warning that persons found aiding and distributing the fake goods would be brought to book.
“We are at the various border points such as Malaba, Busia, Mombasa, and others. We have our officials there doing inspections where they are taking samples and conducting tests,” Cheruiyot said.
“We want to make sure that all the products entering the country are of the required standard,” he added.
Cheruiyot cited the removal of trade barriers within regional blocs such as the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), as well as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), all of which Kenya is a member of, as a possible reason for the presence of counterfeit products in the country.
Even so, he maintained that the Bureau would still carry out its mandate, noting that increased trade led to more revenues for the country.
“There are so many goods that come, but it is our mandate to make sure that they all meet the required standard as per our regulations,” Cheruiyot said.
Another KEBS official, Redempta Cherotich, called for the public’s help in identifying counterfeit products, emphasising that consumers had a massive role to play.
Cherotich called upon consumers to verify the validity of the Bureau’s standard of quality mark, and report fake signs.
Statistics by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) revealed that KRA seized goods valued at Ksh243.5 million at entry points as of December 2024.
List of Kenya's Border Points
Currently, Kenya has over 15 border points, including:
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Along the boundary of Kenya and Uganda, border points include Malaba, Busia, Suam, and Lwakhakha.
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Border points at the Kenya-Tanzania boundary are Namanga, Taveta/Holili, Lunga Lunga/Horohoro, Sirare/ Isebania, and Loitoktok.
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Border points at the Kenya-South Sudan boundary are Nadapal/Lokichogio and Todonyang.
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At the boundary of Kenya and Ethiopia, border points include Moyale and Sololo/Forolle.
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At the Kenya-Somalia boundary, border points include Liboi/Dobley, Mandera, and El-Wak.
