Editor's Review

The Authority said it discovered goods worth Sh50 million being sold by China Square, seemingly without the permission of the trademark holder.

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority is now revealing that China Square was found selling a product without the consent of those who own the item's intellectual property.

In a statement, Executive Director of Anti-Counterfeit Authority Robi Njoroge Mbugua noted that the discovery followed a complaint they received regarding the sale of the "FINDER branded tool" from M/S Smithmo Company Limited who are the trademark owners.

The complaint prompted an inspection at China square which was conducted on February 16, 2023, during which products worth Sh50 million were discovered.

"The Authority's Enforcement Directorate acted promptly on the complaint and conducted an inspection on 16/2/2023 at the China Square Mall, leading to in-situ seizures of goods with an approximate value of Sh50 million, which included hardware materials and tools owned by the brand owner," the statement read.

However, ACA failed to indicate the action taken following the discovery of the items or what the discovery means to China square which has been facing humongous criticism in recent times.

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It did not also state whether China square was wrong to have the product or where they obtained them from.

It raises eyebrows at the same time why the ACA conducted the raid on February 16 but waited until February 28 to give a report of the discovery.

China Square has been the talk of the town after reports went rife that it is selling commodities at a cheaper and affordable rate.

The reports have seen hundreds of Kenyans troop to Unicity mall owned by Kenyatta university to have an experience of China Square, a move that Kenyan traders felt will elbow them out of business.

On Friday, Trade CS Moses Kuria said that as much as Kenya welcomes Chinese investors, they were here as manufacturers and not traders.

He said he had held talks with the Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof Paul Wainaina on the shop's lease.

"I have today given an offer to Prof Wainaina the VC Kenyatta University to buy out the lease for China Square, Unicity Mall and hand it over to the Gikomba, Nyamakima, Muthurwa and Eastleigh Traders Association," he said.