Anti-Counterfeit Authority pushes for unified regional laws to fight fake goods

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority has intensified efforts to secure a common legal framework for fighting counterfeit goods across East Africa. The authority says differences in national laws allow traders dealing in fake products to exploit regional borders and evade enforcement. Kenya loses an estimated 100 billion shillings annually to illicit trade, affecting government revenue collection. Since its establishment, the authority has seized counterfeit goods valued at more than 400 billion shillings and destroyed fakes worth over 200 million shillings. It is now calling for the adoption of an East African Anti-Counterfeit Management Bill.