The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has unveiled a new digital certification system aimed at strengthening the fight against counterfeit products and protecting consumers from unsafe goods in the Kenyan market.
The initiative, announced during the 2026 World Anti-Counterfeiting Day celebrations, introduces a digitally verifiable Anti-Counterfeit Security Device that will be attached to selected products before they are distributed for sale.
ACA officials say the new technology will make it easier for consumers, traders and enforcement agencies to distinguish genuine products from counterfeit ones.
New Digital Tool to Verify Genuine Products
According to ACA Board Chairman Nelson Gaichuhie, the authority is implementing provisions of the Anti-Counterfeit Act that require the registration of intellectual property rights for imported products and the issuance of a certification mark for designated goods.
Under the new system, every approved product will carry a unique digital identifier that can be verified using a smartphone.
“Each security device will contain a unique identifier that consumers and enforcement officers can verify instantly. The system will help us track genuine products and strengthen our ability to detect counterfeit goods across the supply chain,” said Gaichuhie.
The Authority noted that every verification scan will generate data that can be used to monitor product movement and support enforcement efforts.
Health and Safety Products Targeted First
The rollout will begin with products considered critical to public health and safety.
Among the goods included in the pilot phase are alcoholic beverages, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, skincare products, fertilisers, agrochemicals, bottled water, edible oils, food items, electrical equipment and automotive safety components.
Officials said the focus on these sectors is intended to reduce the risks posed by counterfeit products that can endanger lives, damage property and undermine legitimate businesses.
The certification mark will be applied during manufacturing or at the point of importation under the supervision of the Authority and other regulatory agencies.
Integration With Existing Regulatory Systems
To avoid duplication and additional compliance burdens, ACA plans to integrate the new verification system with existing government platforms.
The Authority will work alongside the Kenya Revenue Authority’s Excisable Goods Management System and existing quality assurance marks issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
In addition, a public mobile application is being developed to allow consumers across the country to verify the authenticity of products before purchasing them.
ACA has also called for support from government agencies and stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of the programme.
Counterfeit Goods Worth Millions Recovered
ACA Chief Executive Officer Robi Kinga revealed that enforcement efforts have continued to intensify, with counterfeit goods valued at more than Ksh500 million seized during the first three quarters of the 2025/26 financial year.
The recovered items included fake imported products, smartphones and goods stored in warehouses across the country.
Kinga noted that counterfeit sugar, alcohol, fertilisers and agrochemicals remain among the most common products intercepted by authorities.
He cited a recent operation in Trans Nzoia County where law enforcement officers dismantled an illegal alcohol manufacturing network and recovered hundreds of litres of industrial ethanol.
The Authority believes the new digital certification mark will significantly enhance consumer protection, strengthen market surveillance and reduce the circulation of counterfeit products in Kenya.
