The most common illegal commerce activity
in Kenya is counterfeiting. According to the Anti-Counterfeit Authority's (ACA)
2020 National Baseline Survey on Counterfeit and Other Forms of Illicit Trade
in Kenya, the total value of illicit trade increased to Sh826 billion in 2018,
up 14% from Sh726 billion in 2017.
As a result of counterfeiting, members of
the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) lose almost 40% of their market
share.
Economic progress is negatively impacted by
illicit trade. Ordinary people and respectable enterprises are the ones who
suffer from these operations, even though they are orchestrated by criminals.
Along with denying citizens their access to
authentic, high-quality products, it also endangers lives by flooding the
market with inferior and, frequently, quite harmful goods. An illustration
would be the use of fake alcohol, which has historically led to fatal
consequences.
KAM is still collaborating with government
agencies, like the ACA, to educate consumers about the existence of fake goods
on the market and to promote coordination, collaboration, and interagency
collaboration among the national enforcement organisations tasked with fighting
different types of illicit trade.