By Caren Owino, Kisumu
A multi-agency team has destroyed counterfeit and illicit goods worth nearly KSh100 million at the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) in Kisumu, in a renewed crackdown on illegal products finding their way into the market.
The consignment, comprising illicit alcoholic drinks, bottled water and counterfeit cigarettes, was destroyed under the supervision of government agencies led by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
Speaking on behalf of KRA during the exercise, Nancy Chemtai said the operation is aimed at protecting consumers from harmful products while ensuring that only goods meeting the required quality and tax compliance standards reach the market.
“The products that we’ve destroyed here today are worth almost KSh100 million. They comprise cigarettes, alcohol and even bottled water that was giving unfair competition to legitimate traders. Much of it is smuggled into the country, while some is produced locally by unlicensed manufacturers. We greatly appreciate the intelligence we receive from members of the public, who alert us to where these products are. With the support of the police, our teams are able to respond and seize them.”
Chemtai noted that the fight against illicit trade will continue through enhanced surveillance and coordinated multi-agency enforcement to safeguard public health, protect legitimate businesses and seal revenue leakages.
The exercise also provided a platform for the National Government to address the prevailing security situation in Kisumu County.
County Commissioner Mohamed Ramadhan Mobuto issued a stern warning to criminal gangs behind recent attacks, saying security agencies have identified those involved and that they remain under close surveillance.
“No leader is above the law. Everybody lives under the law, including leaders involved in goonism. We know how we will deal with them, and they will see for themselves. We don’t want to announce what we will do, but action will be taken against them. No one can defeat the law. If Nairobi is safe, why not Kisumu? The politics of goonism is stupidity.”
The County Commissioner also warned politicians accused of sponsoring or financing criminal gangs to intimidate political rivals and residents, saying the government will not tolerate leaders who use violence for political gain.
He vowed that security agencies will relentlessly pursue both the perpetrators and their sponsors to restore peace and ensure residents can live and conduct business without fear.
