With the government keen on expanding the economy and creating more jobs by ensuring that manufacturing’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rises from 8.4% recorded in 2017 to 15% by 2022, the authorities have placed great emphasis in the war on counterfeit which Deputy Head of Public Service Wanyama Musiambo says has yielded fruit since illicit goods worth Ksh8 billion have been netted since May last year.
According to Musiambo, majority of the goods were intercepted in Nairobi and Mombasa mainly due to huge access to black markets and proximity to the Port of Mombasa.
The former Regional Rift Valley Coordinator spoke during the launch of the Manufacturing Priority Agenda (MPA) 2019 by the Kenya Manufacturers Association (KAM) dubbed Closing the Manufacturing Gap through the Big Four Agenda for Shared Prosperity which details how the association plans to to make sure that industries become the backbone of the economy as envisioned by the Big Four Agenda.
“You’ve seen that we have been cracking down on counterfeit goods. In August last year you saw His Excellency The President preside over destruction of counterfeit goods in line with our vision to ensure that we only have legitimate goods in the country,” said Musiambo in reference to when President Uhuru Kenyatta witnessed destruction of goods intercepted by The Kenya Revenue Authority on August 31, 2018.
Speaking during the launch, Industrialisation Principal Secretary Betty Maina listed realisation of a level playing field, enhancement of market access, drafting of a pro-industry policy and institutional framework and securing of the manufacturing industry as what needs to be done in order to realise the manufacturing dream.
PS Maina lauded efforts by the multi-agency team on the war on counterfeit goods headed by Musiambo saying that its impact has already been felt by the association.
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“It is an indictment of Kenyan businesses that an attempt to clean the business environment has led to reduction of activity that means that some of our people have been engaging in dodgy deals,” said Ms Maina.
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