Players in the industry point to inadequate resourcing of law enforcement agencies as a contributing factor to the growth of illicit products in Kenya.
Existing legal frame works and penalties imposed on smuggled counterfeit cigarette products remain weak and do not act as a deterrent to the problem impacting significantly on the country’s economy.
To address the problem, industry players are engaging the various government agencies to increase their surveillance especially along the key entry points of Mombasa, along with pushing for the implementation of a digital tax verification system to authenticate genuine products.
“We applaud the KRA for their unwavering support and look forward to more of the same type of targeted response in the future,” Waita said.
“We continue to work with the KRA to implement reforms in the management of exports and transit goods within EAC and beyond,” he emphasised.
The KRA & BAT also recognized the support of Bamburi Cement who offered their kiln to incinerate the seized products.
Industry players through the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) are also pushing for enhanced public and private sector collaboration in the development and implementation of policies geared towards combating smuggled counterfeit products trade.
