Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet declares war on counterfeit products

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet

Nairobi, Kenya: The Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet has urged Police officers attached to Anti Counterfeit Agency to help the organisation stamp out contraband products in the country.

Boinnet noted that Kenya is losing millions of money to unscrupulous business activities due to fake products illegally manufactured in the country and others being sneaked in from outside.

The IG said his office will deploy more police officers to be trained to deal decisively with the counterfeit products in across the country.

"My office will cooperate with the Anti Counterfeit Agency to train and equip police officers with skills and laws regarding counterfeits products. We will fight this war to the end,” Boinnet said.

The Inspector General said Kenyans have been misled by fake manufacturers to venture into risk of buying contraband goods. The IG said the vice has led to serious economic sabotage.

Addressing Anti Counterfeit Inspectors at Kenya Government School, the IG regretted that lives of Kenyans have been put at stake due to massive production of counterfeit products across the region.

The IG warned Anti Counterfeit Inspectors culpable of corrupt deals to desist from the vice. He raised a red flag that those officers found taking bribes to compromise standards will be dealt with according to the law.

"I warn you officers as early as this to do your job properly. Shun corruption dealings during execution of your duties or you rot in jail if found taking bribes,” IG warned.

The Anti Counterfeit Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. John Akoten said the agency has sourced police officers from the office of the IG to help combat Counterfeit products in the Country.

Dr. Akoten said a section of police officers and anti-counterfeit officials drawn from the counties have already completed induction training at Kenya School of Government and are ready to crack the whip.

The CEO noted that one out of five products, especially first moving consumer products like mobile phone, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products among others manufactured locally are believed to be counterfeit.

He said the country is ready to tap into direct foreign investment and a thriving business that will create more employment for Kenyans if the vice is eradicated.