BAT Kenya Pays Courtesy Visit to ACA to Strengthen Fight Against Illicit Tobacco Trade

The Managing Director of British American Tobacco (BAT) Kenya, Mr. Crispin Achola, paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Director of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), Robi M. King’a, PhD, at the Authority’s headquarters in Nairobi. He was accompanied by Ms. Tashanya Okola, Head of External Affairs and Billy Tsuma from BAT Kenya.

The meeting brought together BAT Kenya and ACA leadership for discussions focused on strengthening collaboration in the fight against illicit tobacco trade and protecting legitimate businesses within Kenya’s market.

During the engagement, the BAT delegation provided insights into the growing challenge of illicit tobacco products and demonstrated the key distinctions between genuine BAT cigarette products and illicit ones currently circulating in the market. The presentation provided valuable technical insights to support enforcement officers in identifying non-compliant tobacco products.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Crispin Achola highlighted the significant threat posed by illicit tobacco products to legitimate manufacturers, consumers, and the broader economy.

“Illicit tobacco products continue to undermine legitimate businesses, deprive governments of critical revenue, and expose consumers to unregulated products. Addressing this challenge requires closer collaboration between industry and enforcement agencies. We appreciate the work being undertaken by the Anti-Counterfeit Authority and remain committed to supporting joint efforts aimed at protecting legitimate trade and safeguarding consumers,” said Mr. Achola.
The discussions further emphasized the importance of coordinated action among enforcement agencies, industry stakeholders, and the public in tackling illicit trade.

Ms. Agnes Karingu, Deputy Director of Education and Public Awareness at the Anti-Counterfeit Authority, underscored the role of public awareness in supporting enforcement efforts.
“The actualization of this fight against illicit trade calls for multi-agency cooperation, increased public awareness, and stronger endorsement of legitimate products so that consumers are able to distinguish genuine goods from illicit ones,” she noted.

Also speaking during the meeting, ACA Director of Enforcement Mr. Yusuf Osman stressed the need for strengthened collaboration between regulators and rights holders to disrupt illicit trade networks.
“Illicit trade networks are increasingly sophisticated, which makes collaboration between regulators and industry essential. By sharing intelligence and strengthening product identification mechanisms, we can enhance enforcement operations and disrupt the supply chains that allow illicit tobacco products to enter the Kenyan market,” he said.

In his remarks, Robi M. King’a, PhD, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to working closely with industry stakeholders to safeguard Kenya’s market from counterfeit and illicit products.
“The fight against illicit trade cannot be won by enforcement agencies alone. It requires strong partnerships with rights holders, industry stakeholders, and the public. Through continued collaboration and intelligence sharing, we can strengthen our enforcement efforts and protect Kenya’s market from the harmful effects of illicit trade,” said Dr. King’a.

The Executive Director also urged BAT Kenya to take advantage of the Authority’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Recordation system, which enables rights holders to formally register their trademarks and product details with ACA. He noted that the recordation framework enhances the Authority’s ability to detect and intercept counterfeit and illicit goods at points of entry and within the domestic market.

The Executive director further recommended the establishment of regular technical and product-marking sessions between ACA and BAT teams to facilitate knowledge sharing, strengthen product authentication capabilities, and enhance intelligence exchange that supports enforcement operations.
The Executive Director was joined by members of the ACA leadership team including Mr. Yusuf Osman, Director of Enforcement; Mr. Lindsey Kipkemoi, Deputy Director of Enforcement; Mr. Caspar Ouluch, Head of Recordation; Ms. Agnes Karingu, Deputy Director of Education and Public Awareness; and Ms. Jully Omollo, Ag. Deputy Director of Legal Services.

The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to continued collaboration in strengthening enforcement efforts, promoting public awareness, and protecting consumers and legitimate businesses from the growing threat of illicit trade.

Through such engagements, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority continues to strengthen partnerships with industry stakeholders as part of its broader mandate to protect intellectual property rights, safeguard legitimate trade, and protect consumers from the dangers associated with counterfeit and illicit products.