NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya is stepping up its fight against counterfeiting with the release of the Second International Symposium on Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement (ISIPPE-2) Report.
The report, launched at Nairobi’s Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, lays out actionable strategies to strengthen intellectual property (IP) rights and protect consumers, innovators, and the economy.
Speaking at the event, Salim Mvurya, Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry, commented about the stakes. “Counterfeiting costs the global economy $2.2 trillion annually. Here in Kenya, it drains approximately Sh100 billion every year,” he said.
Beyond the economic toll, counterfeit goods pose serious risks to consumer safety and fair trade.
The ISIPPE-2 symposium, themed “United Against Counterfeiting for a Healthy and Safer World,” provided a platform for global dialogue on combating this issue.
The report distills key insights and recommendations, emphasizing multi-agency collaborations and tech-driven enforcement mechanisms, like the Anti-Counterfeit Authority Integrated Management System (AIMS).
Josephat Kabeabea, Chairman of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority, described the report as “a blueprint for action,” calling for collective efforts to safeguard legitimate trade and innovation.
Kenya’s efforts to bolster IP protection are getting a boost from its new National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS), developed in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Dr. Juma Mukhwana, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Industry, highlighted the policy’s role in fostering innovation and fair competition.
County Aggregation Industrial Parks are also part of this vision, serving as hubs for innovation and value addition across Kenya’s 47 counties.
The government has set ambitious targets, including raising the manufacturing sector’s GDP contribution to 20pc by 2030 and tripling export contributions annually.
Dr. Robi Mbugua Njoroge, Executive Director of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority, announced that the Third International Symposium on Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement (ISIPPE-3) is scheduled for June 2025, with a focus on sustainability and advanced enforcement mechanisms.
The government’s renewed emphasis on IP protection comes at a pivotal time, as counterfeit goods continue to threaten economic growth and public safety.
