Low-income shoppers drive up sales of illegal cosmetics despite ban

Kenya Bureau of Standards officials confiscate beauty products at a shop on River Road during a raid in April 2017. Photo, File

Traders in Nairobi's River Road continue to sell illegal products a few months after a crackdown by Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs).

The traders said most of their customers are low-income earners who cannot afford certified goods, which are more costly.

"This is my source of livelihood and most people who come here ask for the cheap products. They want items that cost less than Sh500," said Susan, a cosmetics trader at River Road.

Not about quality

Susan says her customers usually have three requirements for the products they intend to purchase; 'gives results fast, less than Sh500 and few side effects'. She, however, says that most of the products with the qualities the shoppers desire are far above Sh500 and so they offer what is cheap and available.

According to Susan's neighbour, her clients are mostly concerned with the results and rarely do they ask for the quality of the products.

"Most of my new clients only ask how long it will take before they see results. However, the rest come with their minds made up on what products they want," she said.

Susan says her customers come with their minds made up on the products they want most of which are categorised as illegal.

"They have their minds made up and they do not want to change the products they have been using. The problem is, the products with high demand are the ones marked as illegal," said Susan.

"If I do not have the products they are seeking, I recommend other products. One of a higher quality and another of higher quantity. Most customers pick the latter which is usually cheaper," she added.

In April, Kebs led by principal surveillance officer Gilbert Rono confiscated cosmetics and beauty products worth thousands of shillings in a new crackdown in River Road. More than ten shops were affected and many illegal cosmetics impounded.

Rono said the products were not registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board as medicines and should, therefore, not be sold in the markets.

Common products listed by the bureau of standards as containing these substances include Peau Clair Body Lotion, Kiss Lotion, Mekako soap, Pimplex medicated cream and Princess Lotion among others.

Crackdown

Rono said the raided shops were selling beauty products containing substances that should only be sold in registered pharmacies and chemists, and on the recommendation of a medical doctor for a period of time.

"These cosmetics contain hydroquinone, steroids, mercury and hydrogen peroxide and should not be sold in open markets," said Rono.

He added that illegal cosmetics had become increasingly popular.

There are several skin bleaching chemicals that people are using without paying attention to the effects, he averred.

"The active ingredients in the products should only be used for a specified period of time as prescribed by a doctor," said Rono.

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