Kenyan enforcement agencies tasked with the protection of intellectual property rights underwent a two-day sensitization workshop on Intellectual Property Rights recordation at the Movenpick Hotel in Nairobi. The training held from 4th to 5th October 2022, aimed at increasing the front-line enforcement officers’ skills in the recordation of intellectual property rights. 

The workshop was sponsored by the Africa Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation Project in Africa (AfrIPI) through funding from the European Union and implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office – EUIPO. It brought together ACA Enforcement officers, first-line enforcement officers from other governments, and key stakeholders in the IP control process in Kenya. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority Executive Director Dr. Robi Njoroge Mbugua said the workshop's objective was to “build capacity on emerging trends in counterfeiting and have peer-to-peer learning from organizations with experience and knowledge in the enforcement of IP recordation”. He said the workshop drew a diversity of speakers from the Mauritius Revenue Authority, South African Revenue Service, EU, Algeria & Austrian customs saying. He said that the Authority works with international partners because of the existential international threat posed by trade in counterfeit goods. 

Dr. Mbugua further called upon all stakeholders to work with the Authority to protect, the IP rights of Kenyans and consumers in general. He called on IP owners, IP Agents, importers, and the shipping and freight industry to work with the authority to ensure a seamless implementation of the recordation project.   

The Chief Guest, the outgoing Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development Ms. Betty Maina noted the government efforts in the war against counterfeiting and called for improved enforcement and collaboration in the war against counterfeiting and illicit trade in order to protect legitimate trade for economic development. 

The CS noted that the success in combating illicit trade largely depended on the cooperation amongst the government agencies and the support received from the private sector. The CS concluded by reiterating the support of the government in promoting IPR to ensure investment. 

The workshop was also graced by the ambassador and head of the delegation of the European Union in Nairobi, H.E Henriette Geiger. She appreciated the continued collaboration with Kenyan authorities in protecting innovators and the creative industry saying that the future of our economies lies in the creative economy.  

The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the ACA, Ms. Flora Mutahi, said the Authority had initiated a number of measures to address the growing threat posed by counterfeiting and illicit trade key among them the implementation of the IPR Recordation system. She clarified that the recordation system was a proactive model in IPR enforcement as opposed to previous reactive enforcement measures applied before. “The system seeks to stop the entry of counterfeit goods at the border points and hence it is a preventive innovative system”. She assured stakeholders that the authority will seek to involve them to ensure that they appreciate the importance of the system thus improving self-compliance, and private sector buy-in. 

The event was also attended by representatives from the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Kenya Association of Manufacturers(KAM) and the European Business council among others. The private sector players were involved in a panel discussion on the impact of the recordation system on the private sector upon implementation. They appreciated the government's effort in the war against counterfeit trade and the planned implementation of the recordation system to help the address import of counterfeit products that are locally manufactured.  

About AfrIPI

AfrIPI is a pioneering intellectual property cooperation project that engages joint action between the EU and Africa to boost intra-African trade and facilitate Africa-Europe investment for economic growth and sustainable development. The project is co-financed by the European Commission, through the Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), and by the EUIPO. It is implemented by the EUIPO in partnership with African regional and national institutions, notably the African Union (AU) Commission, the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO).

About IP Rights Recordation in Kenya.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) recordation refers to the process of collecting and entering into an electronic database, information from Intellectual Property Rights owners regarding their registered IPRs (trademarks, patents, utility models, industrial designs, copyrights, or any other registered intellectual property right), irrespective of their place of registration, for all goods to be imported into Kenya. For more information, visit: https://www.aca.go.ke/faqs-intellectual-property-rights-recordation.