The Anti-counterfeit Act, 2008 defines counterfeiting to include; the manufacturing, production, packaging, re-packaging, labeling or making of protected goods whereby those protected goods are imitated. Simply it’s the violation of trademarks, industrial designs, and geographical indications, copyright and related rights. Counterfeiting is also a billion-dollar industry which is widespread and rampant throughout the world but more so among low-income economies like Kenya. Counterfeit products are becoming a major problem to Manufacturers, consumers, innovators and traders in Kenya and globally. The aim is to confuse or deceive consumers as to their quality, source, origin or legitimacy.

It is therefore important to determine the level of public awareness and trade routes on matters of counterfeiting in Kenya. Specifically, the aim of the report is to determine the level of public awareness on matters of counterfeiting in Kenya, the proportion of consumers who can recognize counterfeit goods, the proportion of consumers who do not purchase counterfeit goods knowingly and to establish the trade routes for counterfeited products into Kenya.

This will enable them to better respond to the problems and provide appropriate policies and incentives to encourage solution-based measures. It will also assist the government in developing strategies to mitigate the problem and treat the counterfeit problem seriously and systematically.

The study revealed the level of public awareness on matters of counterfeiting in Kenya stands at 65.48% as at June 2021. This is based on a number of parameters including; awareness of public awareness programs on matters of counterfeiting, proportion of Kenyans who can identify at least one counterfeit products, awareness of government bodies involved in combating counterfeiting, awareness of effects of counterfeiting, awareness of counterfeit goods in the country and awareness of legal consequences counterfeiting. Land boarders contribute 53%, sea ports 36% and airports let in 11% of the imported counterfeit goods. The counterfeit goods largely imported through these trade routes include electrical & electronics, textiles, foodstuff, agrochemicals, human medicines, assorted spare parts and beauty products.