The Anti-Counterfeit Authority played host to the US CBP Deputy Assistant Commissioner for International Affairs Mr. Clint Lamm at the sidelines of the World Anti-Counterfeit Day commemorations at the Crown Plaza Hotel Nairobi. Mr. Lamm was accompanied by Mr. Anthony Baccari, the CBP Director Africa, Middle East & Asia, Mr. Benito Montiel Senior Advisor of the CBP Security Governance Initiative, and Mr. Harrison Koech the CBP Program Manager Kenya. The team was hosted by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors Ms. Flora Mutahi together with the Senior Management team of the Authority led by the Acting Executive Director Ms. Fridah Kaberia.

“US CBP supports programs and activities with partners around the world under Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement to facilitate and secure legitimate trade through improved customs and border security,” He said. At the center of the discussions was finding ways of harnessing collaboration in securing borders from counterfeit trade and technical support to the Anti-Counterfeit Authority.

Kenya and the United States signed a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement for collaboration on security and trade facilitation between the two countries in 2014. The Agreement calls for collaboration and support to combat illicit cross-border activities to prevent, detect and investigate customs offenses. A number of activities have been undertaken including the operationalization of the Border Control Operations committees on enforcement, legal and public affairs.

The Authority shared a brief on technical Enforcement, Intellectual Property Recordal system, ICT, Research & Public outreach activities. Acting Executive Director Ms. Kaberia said "The Authority is implementing the Intellectual Property Recordation system that the CBP has been using for border enforcement. We look forward to learning from their experience to ensure seamless implementation in Kenya".

The US Customs and Border Protection is one of the world’s largest enforcement organizations whose main responsibility is keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the US and at the same time facilitating the legal movement of people and trade.