ACA Steps Up Crackdown on Counterfeit Alcohol, Fake Fertiliser and School Supplies
By Peace Muthoka
NAIROBI, Kenya — The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on counterfeit alcohol, tobacco products, agricultural inputs and school supplies, following recent operations that resulted in dozens of arrests and seizures of goods worth millions of shillings.
The enforcement drive comes ahead of the festive season, when demand for alcohol and other consumer products is expected to rise, as well as the planting season, which typically increases demand for fertiliser and other agricultural inputs.
ACA Board of Directors Chairperson Nelson Ributhi Gaichuhie said the operations were aimed at protecting consumers, farmers and learners from the dangers of counterfeit products while safeguarding legitimate businesses and government revenue.
“Counterfeit and illicit trade imposes a cost on our country that cannot be measured in money alone,” Gaichuhie said in a statement, warning that the effects extend beyond financial losses to include risks to public health, agricultural production and education.
The authority’s recent operations point to the scale of suspected counterfeit and illicit alcohol trading. Between August 20 and September 3, 2026, a multi-agency Rapid Results Initiative in high-risk areas of Nairobi resulted in 36 arrests and apprehensions, alongside the recovery of more than 5,555 suspected counterfeit bottles and approximately 39,580 litres of illicit brew.
Dagoretti North accounted for about 27,330 litres of the recovered illicit alcohol, while more than 5,000 bottles were seized in Kayole and 868 assorted alcoholic beverages in Eastleigh.
In a separate operation on September 15, ACA officers working with police seized 8,459 suspected counterfeit alcoholic products valued at approximately KSh 2.1 million in Makindu. Further seizures in Nairobi, Nyeri and Eldoret brought the value of goods recovered during September to approximately KSh 3.74 million, according to the authority.
Beyond alcohol, the ACA said it would intensify enforcement against counterfeit tobacco and nicotine products, including cigarettes bearing imitations of registered brands and forged excise stamps.
The crackdown will also cover electronic cigarettes, vapes, refill liquids, rolling papers and filters. Gaichuhie said the products were manufactured outside regulatory oversight, making it difficult to verify their contents and safety.
He added that counterfeit tobacco and nicotine products undermine legitimate manufacturers and deprive the Government of revenue. To strengthen enforcement, the authority will work with the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Kenya Bureau of Standards, the Ministry of Health and rights holders.
Fake fertiliser raises concern
The enforcement campaign is also targeting agricultural inputs, following the seizure of illegally repackaged fertiliser in Matungu, Kakamega County, last Friday.
According to the ACA, officers recovered the fertiliser alongside two loaded lorries and industrial packaging equipment. Preliminary investigations indicate that the fertiliser had been diverted from the Government subsidy programme and repackaged in counterfeit branded bags for sale at commercial prices.
“Fertiliser intended to make farming affordable for ordinary Kenyans was instead being sold for private profit,” Gaichuhie said.
The authority said it would step up efforts to protect farmers from counterfeit agricultural inputs that could expose them to financial losses and undermine their farming activities.
School supplies also under scrutiny
With candidates sitting their national examinations, the ACA is also targeting pirated textbooks and revision materials, as well as counterfeit calculators and mathematical sets bearing imitations of registered brands and publishers.
Gaichuhie warned that pirated learning materials may contain errors, omissions or outdated content, while counterfeit calculators and mathematical sets may fail to meet required accuracy standards.
He said stationery was among the highest-value categories of goods in the authority’s most recent destruction exercise. Consequently, officers will intensify inspections of bookshops, stationery wholesalers and suppliers serving schools.
The move is intended to protect learners, parents and schools from substandard educational materials while safeguarding legitimate publishers and manufacturers.
Public urged to verify products
As the festive season approaches, the authority expects demand for alcohol, tobacco, foodstuffs and personal care products to increase. At the same time, the planting season is expected to drive demand for fertiliser and other agricultural inputs.
Gaichuhie urged consumers to buy products only from licensed and reputable outlets, check seals, labels and packaging, and verify excise stamps and standardisation marks through official channels.
Farmers were advised to obtain subsidised fertiliser only through authorised channels, while parents and schools were encouraged to source learning materials from authorised publishers and suppliers.
Members of the public who suspect that products are counterfeit can report them through the ACA’s official channels or at any of its regional offices. The authority said all information received would be handled confidentially.
As the nationwide operations intensify, Gaichuhie warned that the festive season would not interrupt enforcement against counterfeit traders.
“Counterfeiters should not expect a holiday from enforcement,” he said.
