President Donald Trump’s administration has listed Kenya among the countries that lack proper enforcement structures to curb the entry of counterfeit goods.
The report released on April 29 revealed that Kenya has weak intellectual property (IP) enforcement, which allows fake products to flood the market.
These counterfeit products include semiconductors, chemicals, medicines, automotive and aircraft parts, food and beverages, household consumer products, personal care products, apparel and footwear, toys, and sporting goods.
Kenya named among the top countries allowing counterfeit products. Photo: Courtesy.
Most of the counterfeit products that illegally access the Kenyan market are mainly from Asian countries, including China, Chile, India, Japan, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
According to the report, the counterfeits are shipped either directly to purchasers or indirectly through transit hubs and taken to third-country markets.
The report named the third-country such as Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, and Russia.
The US government moreover expressed concerns with the proliferation of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
As per the report, the top countries of origin for counterfeit pharmaceuticals seized at the US border in Fiscal Year 2024 were India, China, including Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore.
