By Nicholas Nduati           Â
The Anti-counterfeit agency will in the next two months roll out a digital enforcement case management system to help track and manage cases on counterfeits.
According to Industry Principal Secretary Patrick Nduati, Kenya now has the legal and institutional preparedness to address theft and protection of Intellectual Property rights.
Over the last five years, counterfeit goods worth 880 million shillings have been seized out of which goods worth 520 million shillings have been destroyed after conclusion of their cases.
However, cases of contraband goods still abound which has seen the Anti-Counterfeit Agency device ways to deal with the menace by the roll out of a digital enforcement case management system.
To widen its net, the Anti-Counterfeit Agency is pursuing strategic linkages and alliances with other law enforcement agencies and diversify public outreach programs.
The anti-counterfeit agency is also exploring sustainable funding models from the government and stakeholders to raise its bar in the contraband fight.
The agency plans to among others strengthen its human capital capacity, finance and infrastructure.
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Last year, the government was keen to enforce anti-counterfeit and local content legislation to help domestic firms compete against foreign companies and capture growing regional opportunities.
The Industrialization Principal Secretary Julius Korir said the government was looking to strengthen the law with more stringent penalties to serve as deterrents to counterfeiters.
Korir said combating counterfeiting will help create a favorable business environment for legitimate businesses to thrive.
