News and Events

What appeared to be an ordinary residential home in Ruringo, within Nyeri town, concealed a dangerous and illegal operation, one that posed a serious threat to public health and safety.
Acting on intelligence, officers from the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) Nyeri team, working alongside Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Kenya Bureau of Standards, and National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), conducted a coordinated raid that uncovered an illicit alcohol manufacturing site operating from within the residence.
Inside the house, the multi-agency team found evidence of a well-organized counterfeiting operation. The suspects had set up equipment used for sealing bottle caps and affixing counterfeit excise stamps, mimicking legitimate production processes. Among the items recovered were fake Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamps, thousands of assorted nip caps, sealing tapes, and packaging materials, tools clearly intended to deceive unsuspecting consumers.

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has destroyed counterfeit goods valued at over KSh 200M in a major enforcement exercise aimed at protecting consumers, safeguarding legitimate businesses, and preserving the integrity of Kenya’s marketplace.

The destruction exercise, conducted in Athi River, marks a significant milestone in the Authority’s ongoing efforts to combat the proliferation of counterfeit goods across the country. The goods had been seized through coordinated enforcement operations across Nairobi, Eastern and Nyeri regions, including key entry points such as Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and the Inland Container Depot, Nairobi, and had undergone all required legal and administrative processes prior to disposal.

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) continues to intensify its crackdown on illicit trade by conducting specialized Product Knowledge Training sessions for its enforcement officers. This ongoing initiative is designed to refine the technical expertise of the frontline team, ensuring they remain equipped to handle the increasingly complex tactics used by counterfeiters. By bridging the gap between industry intelligence and field operations, the Authority is maintaining a proactive stance in its long-term mission to sanitize the Kenyan market.

ACA, Police and DCI Intercept 3,600 Suspected Counterfeit Dettol Soap Bars in Eastern Region

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), working jointly with the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), has intercepted a consignment of 3,600 suspected counterfeit Dettol soap bars in Eastern Region, in an operation aimed at protecting consumers from unsafe personal care products.

The seizure followed a complaint received by the ACA Eastern Region Office from Cerberus Investigation and Security Ltd regarding the suspected movement of counterfeit Dettol soap. Acting on the intelligence, the agencies mounted a coordinated operation along the Matuu–Kanyonyo route, where the suspected goods were intercepted before they could reach the market.

On 2nd April 2026, a multi-agency tree planting exercise was held at Irangi Forest in Embu County, bringing together national and county government institutions, environmental agencies, and members of the local community. The initiative formed part of the broader national effort to promote environmental conservation, restore forest cover, and advance sustainability initiatives, in line with Kenya’s ambitious goal of increasing national tree cover.

The exercise attracted participation from a wide range of stakeholders, including the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry (MITI), the State Department for Industry, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI), the Numerical Machining Complex, the Embu County Government, the Community Forest Association, and the local community. ACA was represented by its Environmental and Sustainability Committee, underscoring the Authority’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

ACA Engages BCCK on Strengthening Collaboration in the Fight Against Counterfeit Trade

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) engaged the British Chamber of Commerce Kenya (BCCK) in a roundtable discussion aimed at strengthening collaboration in the fight against counterfeit trade.

The engagement brought together key public and private sector stakeholders to deliberate on issues affecting businesses and consumers, including border control gaps, enforcement coordination, digital counterfeiting, and the protection of intellectual property rights.

The British Chamber of Commerce Kenya is a business membership organisation that brings together over 300 active members, including FTSE 100 companies as well as micro, small and medium-sized enterprises operating in Kenya. The Chamber represents a significant number of the more than 150 UK companies in the country, supported by a strong and growing Kenya–UK trade relationship valued at approximately £1.8 billion.

ACA Signs 2025/2026 Performance Contract

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has signed its Performance Contract for the 2025/2026 financial year in a ceremony presided over by the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, at the Ministry’s offices.

The signing forms part of the Government’s broader performance management framework aimed at enhancing accountability, transparency, and service delivery across public institutions.

ACA was represented at the ceremony by Board Chairman Hon. Nelson Gaichuhie, CBS, and Board Member Hon. Neddy Kiptoo, accompanied by the Executive Director, Dr. Robi M. King’a, PhD.

ACA Executive Director Chairs Consultative Meeting on Proposed National IP Policy and Strategy

The Executive Director of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), Dr. Robi M. King’a, PhD, chaired a consultative meeting with the Technical Working Group on the proposed National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS).

The meeting brought together key state agencies involved in the process, including the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), Kenya National Innovation Agency (KENIA), National Research Fund (NRF), and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), to deliberate on the proposed policy and strategy and agree on the way forward.

Multi-Agency Raid Nets Suspected Counterfeit Alcohol in Lower Eastern Crackdown

A multi-agency enforcement team has dealt a major blow to the counterfeit alcohol trade in the Lower Eastern Region after raiding a depot and seizing a large consignment of suspected illicit alcoholic products.
The operation, conducted by officers from the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), National Police Service (NPS), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is part of an intensified crackdown on the manufacture, distribution, and sale of counterfeit alcohol in the region.
During the raid, the team recovered 1,625 bottles of suspected counterfeit Apple Ice Vodka, Trigger Spirit at the depot. Officers also impounded a vehicle believed to have been used in the transportation and distribution of the products.

 FAKES: WHY VIGILANCE IS THE BEST GIFT THIS EASTER

By Robi M. King’a

Easter is a season of profound significance defined by faith, reflection, and the warmth of family reunions. As we prepare for these festivities, a shadow often looms over the marketplace as unscrupulous counterfeiters view this season of celebration through a lens of cold opportunism.

Whenever demand for household essentials like food, beverages, cosmetics, and clothing spikes, the "shadow market" of counterfeits thrives.