Counterfeits goods and products Cost Kenya KSh800 Billion Annually, Survey Reveals
NAIROBI — Kenya is losing more than KSh800 billion every year to counterfeit goods, with fake medicines, agricultural inputs, and personal care items flooding the market, a new government report shows.
The 2025 Anti-Counterfeit Consumer Survey, released by the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), shows that 1 in 5 products sold in the country is counterfeit, and 8 out of 10 Kenyans have come across fake goods in their daily lives.
At the top of the list are fake antibiotics and malaria drugs, which account for 89.28% of counterfeit medicine, posing a serious health threat to unsuspecting patients. In agriculture, 89.16% of farmers reported encountering fake pesticides, fertilizers, and animal feeds a situation that threatens food security and farmer income.
“These counterfeit products are not just a drain on the economy, they are dangerous to public health and safety,” ACA Executive Director Robi Mbugua said while presenting the findings.
The personal care industry is also heavily affected. Products like toothpaste, shampoos, soaps, and sanitizers make up 88.32% of counterfeit personal goods, followed closely by fake car parts at 81.89%, and construction materials such as cement and roofing tiles at 76.72%.
The survey also flagged fuel and lubricants among the most counterfeited petroleum products at 76.68%, while non-alcoholic beverages, including juices and soft drinks, followed at 75.89%.
Even alcoholic drinks are not spared. Counterfeit wine leads at 50.12%, followed by beer at 47.44%, whiskey at 42.68%, and vodka at 36.95%.
The growing shift to online marketplaces is compounding the problem. According to the ACA, 31.27% of counterfeit purchases are now made online, where consumers are more vulnerable to deception due to lack of regulation and product verification.
Still, most counterfeit goods are sold on the streets, with 59.37% of buyers obtaining them from hawkers, followed by shops and kiosks at 54.42%, and supermarkets at 21%.
Mbugua said consumer behavior is also fueling the crisis. “Many Kenyans knowingly buy cheaper counterfeit goods, choosing price over safety,” he said.
The report’s findings have renewed calls for stricter enforcement, public education, and better regulation of supply chains. Experts warn that without urgent intervention, the flood of fake goods will continue to undermine legitimate businesses and expose citizens to dangerous products.
The ACA has pledged to intensify market surveillance, particularly in sectors flagged as high risk. Mbugua also urged Kenyans to be cautious of deals that appear “too good to be true.”
Kenya’s fight against counterfeits faces an uphill battle, but with the right enforcement and consumer awareness, the tide may begin to turn.
