By Kamau Macharia
Local electronics retailer Hotpoint Appliances said counterfeiting remained a major threat not only to manufacturers but also businesses that form part of the chain including distributors and retailers.
Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) plans to have users of counterfeit mobile handsets denied access to mobile telephony services beginning May this year.
Concerns have, however, been raised that few people can distinguish between a genuine and counterfeit handset hence need for intensive awareness programmes.
LG Electronics in partnership with Hot Point Appliances â distributors for LG products â recently carried out a free clinic service for its consumers and found out that many customers were unknowingly using counterfeit mobile handsets.
"The prevalence of counterfeits is high as we discovered during our free service clinics where customers bring these products to us only to find out that they are counterfeits.
Creating awareness of genuine over counterfeit products is a slow process but we are taking all the necessary steps to accelerate it," said Rahul Kochhar Hotpoint Appliances director of sales and marketing.
