DPP Goes After Kebs Officials in Fake Stickers Saga

The Director of Public Prosecution(DPP) has blamed Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) officials over the increase in substandard goods in the market.

He accused the officials of colluding with an Indian firm, Madras Security Printers Private Ltd, to supply fake mark-of-quality stickers valued at Kshs882 million.

DPP further claimed that Kebs officials did not follow due process while awarding the tender stating that it was marred with irregularities and illegalities.

Investigations have established that the award of the contract to Madras Security Printers Private Ltd was marred with irregularities and illegalities,” DCI court affidavit revealed.

Specifically, DPP claimed that the stickers supplied did not contain a traceability system and were made using ordinary adhesive papers.

This, the court papers explained, made it easier for fraudsters to duplicate hence the increase in substandard products in the country.

Due to failure to comply with the terms of the contract, sub-standard goods have been recovered from the market and individuals subsequently charged with possession of counterfeit Kebs ISM stickers,” stated the DPP.

A proper mark-of-quality sticker should be tamper-proof while still maintaining the details of a product, those of the importer and the Certificate of Conformity (COC).

However much the scanner can identify the above information from the new stickers, DPP argues that the duplication can still reveal the above information which is contrary to the international standards that the country subscribes to.

The blunder has subsequently caused the country a loss of money to the tune of Ksh100 million every year in counterfeit products.

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