Mercury Hotel, Upperhill, Nairobi, Kenya.

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority of Kenya (ACA) and Uganda’s Anti-Counterfeit Network Limited (ACN Africa) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on April 20, 2023 at Nairobi to strengthen strategic collaboration on matters pertaining to counterfeit goods in the East African region.

Speaking at the Press Conference, ACA’s Executive Director Dr. Robi Mbugua Njoroge said “the MoU represents a statement of mutual intentions between our two institutions focusing on developing and strengthening a robust IP system in the region.”

Dr. Mbugua added that the ACA is mandated by law partner with national and international institutions on matters dealing with counterfeiting. “We look forward to being strategic partners and leading advocates on legislative and regulatory issues addressing Intellectual Property (IP) infringement not in in Kenya but in the region.” He added.

ACN Africa’s Director Strategy, Mr. Kawesa Richard welcomed the initiative between the two institutions saying “Combating counterfeits in the region requires collaborative leadership and action.”

Mr. Kawesa noted that “Collaborative leadership would mean that individual ambitions of every mandate-holder or stakeholder in the IP value chain recognizes common risks, limitations and implications and seeks to work together to mitigate collective threats, increase opportunities and share best practices.”

Emphasizing the importance of partnership across the region, Fred Muwema, the Director Legal at ACN Africa said, “ACA and ACN Africa deeply appreciate the magnitude of the counterfeit challenge at hand and have therefore agreed to cooperate in the areas of research, legal action, technology and communication for mindset change,” #Ends

Facts and Figures

Figures by the World Economic Forum estimates that illicit trade presently deprives the global economy of $2.2 trillion annually, accounting for nearly three per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP),

The latest Intellectual property crime study undertaken by ACA is the National Baseline Survey in October 2019 and February 2020 on the extent of counterfeiting and other forms of illicit trade in Kenya by ACA.

The scope included counterfeiting, piracy, substandard goods, uncustomed goods, restricted goods, and unexercised goods.

The survey showed the value of counterfeit trade to be close to Sh100 billion in revenue in 2018, a figure economists say could be more and increasing each year. From the World Economic Forum estimates, Uganda and Tanzania governments are estimated to lose $1.8 billion (Sh195.8 billion) and $1.6 billion (Sh174.1 billion) in revenue leakages on such vices.