Nairobi, Kenya - 14th May 2025

A high-impact Brand Identification Training course officially opened today in Nairobi. The course, which will last two days, will bring together Kenya’s enforcement officers and anti-illicit trade agencies to strengthen product authentication and intellectual property (IP) enforcement.

Organized by the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) in collaboration with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Middle East Intellectual Property Group (ME-IPG), the training includes presentations from global brands such as Canon, Casio, Niterra, AISIN, and JTEKT. The goal is to equip enforcement officers with the skills to distinguish fakes from authentic products and dismantle counterfeit supply chains.

In his keynote address, Dr. Robi Mbugua Njoroge, Executive Director of ACA, emphasized the strategic importance of this initiative:

“This is not just training - it is part of a broader enforcement strategy to sharpen our technical capacity, accelerate investigations, and protect Kenya’s markets from counterfeit goods,” he stated.

Delivering opening remarks, Mr. Gregor Schneider, EU Regional Counsellor for IP in Africa, recognized Kenya’s growing leadership in IP protection:

“Kenya has one of the most unique IP protection systems in the world, anchored in strong laws and institutions. The move to unify IP registration and enforcement into a single agency is a visionary step - one that deserves to be showcased regionally and globally.”

Japan Reaffirms Mr. Hiroshi Ogihara, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to IP Collaboration

“We sincerely thank the Government of Kenya and ACA for fostering international cooperation. This training reflects our shared commitment to safeguarding innovation and ensuring product integrity,” he said.

This training builds on ACA’s recent milestones, including:

• Seizure of counterfeit goods worth over KES 5 billion
• Roll-out of the National IP Recordation System
• Development of the National IP Policy and Strategy (2023–2027) with support from WIPO
• Expanded public awareness campaigns and grassroots outreach

“Let us ensure every product on every Kenyan shelf reflects authenticity, quality, and compliance,” concluded Dr. Njoroge.