ACA return goods worth Sh50million seized from China Square, dismiss counterfeit allegations
The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has released goods worth Sh50million that were seized from China Square.
Through a statement by ACA, the authority said the complainant, Smithmo Company Ltd, withdrew the complaint after confirming that the ‘Finder’ branded goods were sourced from the same manufacturer and international brand owner of Finder merchandise.
“We would like to inform the public that the complainant in a letter dated February 27, wrote to ACA and requested to withdraw the complaint against China Square,” read the statement by ACA.
“In light of this new information, ACA conducted a thorough investigation and verified the source of the goods and we can confirm that they are authentic Finder Tools. As such, we have released the goods to the rightful owner,” it added.
The authority urged members of the public to be vigilant when purchasing goods to avoid falling victim to counterfeit products.
ACA had seized the goods from China Square on February 16,2023 for investigations after one of the suppliers raised complaints over alleged counterfeits.
China Square owner Lei Cheng however said that the move was a political witch-hunt to have him out of business explaining that the dispute between China Square and Finder was a misunderstanding that had been resolved.
On Wednesday, the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi asked the Kenyan government to protect legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and citizens after a prolonged silence over trade row revolving China Square closure in Juja, Kiambu county.
The embassy issued the statement a day after ACA seized alleged counterfeit goods worth over Sh50million at the mall.
In a statement on Sunday, the Kenya China Chamber of Commerce (KCCC) said that Lei Cheng had followed the required legal procedures before establishing the business.
“We feel discriminated and don’t sit well with the remarks of the Trade Cabinet Secretary to have Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor buy out the lease for the mall which were stated without any consultations with all parties involved.
The simmering diplomatic tiff between Kenya and China comes after recent directives by Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria to have Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Pof. Paul Wainaina to buyout the lease and hand it over to local traders following uproar on take-over of local jobs.
Kuria had emphasised that the country welcomes Chinese investors as manufacturers but not traders.
However, foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei said no lawful investment actor should be apprehensive of the non-arbitrary and non-discriminatory investment regime in Kenya.
“No lawful investment actor- irrespective of their nationality- should be apprehensive because the country’s investment regime is non arbitrary and nondiscriminatory,” the PS said.
