The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has confiscated 90 cartons of counterfeit masks in Namanga, Kajiado County.
According to Hussein Abdi, the ACA inspector at the Namanga One-Stop -Border Post, the masks were impounded in a bus from Tanzania on transit for sale to the Kenyan market.
Abdi noted that the number of counterfeit masks in the market were on the increase with unscrupulous businessmen looking to make a profit from the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“We have confiscated counterfeit masks that were on transit to Kenya from Tanzania for sale to the public. We are keen to ensure no counterfeit products reach the Kenyan market. I want to urge Kenyans to be extra cautious when buying masks as the fake masks pose a threat to the safety and health of Kenyans,” said Abdi.
This comes barely a week after the authority warned Kenyans to beware of the danger of counterfeit sanitisers and detergents in the market.
According to the ACA Executive director Elena Halakhe, the increased demand for these products poses an opportunity for criminals to capitalise on this vulnerability by selling counterfeit detergents and sanitisers.
Mr. Halake in a press release, encouraged Kenyans to be alert when buying these commodities and to report any suspected cases to the Authority or any other law enforcement agency.
The Government in a gazette notice published in the local dailies on Friday 10, 2020 has now made it mandatory for one to wear a face mask in public.
According to the gazette notice users of public or private transport and PSV operators are required to wear a proper mask that must cover the mouth and nose.
Failure to wear a mask will attract a fine of Sh.20, 000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 6months or both.
Face masks in Kenya are currently being produced at Kitui County Textile Centre (Kicotec) and Rivatex Company in Eldoret.
The companies produce 30,000 masks in a day.
By Rop Janet
Counterfeit masks impounded in Namanga,Kajiado
