ACA Hosts BAHLITA Roundtable to Tackle Counterfeit and Illicit Trade

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) Board and Management today held a high-level roundtable with the leadership of the Bar, Hotel, and Liquor Traders Association (BAHLITA) at the Merica Hotel in Nakuru County, in a strategic effort to protect Kenya’s hospitality industry from the growing threat of counterfeit and illicit alcohol. The meeting brought together key stakeholders to discuss practical measures that safeguard legitimate businesses while addressing public health and consumer safety concerns.

Nakuru, a critical transit hub along the Northern Corridor, was deliberately chosen for the discussions. The city’s position as a major trade artery makes it both a vital conduit for legitimate commerce and a strategic target for illicit goods. By anchoring this partnership in Nakuru, ACA and BAHLITA are aiming to secure one of Kenya’s most important commercial crossroads.

Representing 54,000 members nationwide, BAHLITA is a major economic engine, supporting over one million Kenyans across the hospitality sector. The meeting comes at a time when illicit alcohol is estimated to cost the economy KSh 120 billion annually through smuggling, counterfeit production, and tax evasion.

“The scale of illicit trade is a direct assault on the over one million jobs this sector supports,” said ACA Board Chairman Hon. Nelson Gaichuhie. “Counterfeit liquor erodes the consumer trust that Nakuru’s hospitality industry is built upon. Our presence here today is to ensure that the legitimate trader is protected, and the criminal element is dismantled.”

Dr. Robi M. King’á, Executive Director of ACA, noted that criminal networks are increasingly sophisticated, deliberately imitating trusted brands to deceive both traders and consumers. “In a commercial hub like Nakuru, our enforcement strategy is now intelligence-led. We are targeting the source of these illicit products before they ever reach compliant bars and hotels. Protecting the hospitality sector means protecting public health and consumer confidence,” he said.

BAHLITA Secretary General Mr. Boniface Gachoka pledged a proactive role for the association. “Our members are ready to support ACA, not just by raising concerns but by acting as the frontline of defense. We will share intelligence, partner in training staff to detect counterfeit products, and launch public awareness campaigns to educate consumers on the dangers of illicit brews and the value of buying genuine products,” he said.

The discussions also addressed growing concerns about “refilled” bottles and the harassment of businesses by impostor inspectors. The roundtable agreed on standardized reporting, stronger monitoring of supply chains, and coordinated awareness campaigns to protect both consumers and legitimate traders.