| dc.description.abstract | Globalization of the international economy has led to the deepening integration of international economic and financial activity. This phenomenon has been fostered by electronic works, liberalization of cross-border markets and the emergence of several new countries on e global market. The emergence of the global market, regional and intra-triad business has 'evailed like never before and with this trade, counterfeit products have at the same time uived. Firms engaged in the counterfeit trade upon finding success in one market, undertake further initiatives to expand the same counterfeit market and with this drive, there has been an increase in counterfeit products over the last two decades.
The extent of the counterfeit trade is such that in 2009, the International Chamber of Commerce Research, estimated that annual osses to business as a result of counterfeiting was in the range of $750 billion and the figure keeps on increasing. The purpose of this study was to examine the challenges facing Kenya Bureau of Standards in combating counterfeit trade.
The research design for the study was a case study of Kenya Bureau of Standards on challenges faced in combating counterfeit trade. The sample comprised of four (4) senior managers in the organization who were interviewed separately to facilitate collection of the data. The data was specifically collected from the four managers who were selected. The data collection tool was an interview guide. Content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative primary data which had been collected by conducting interviews and secondary information from the organization.
'The key findings from the study were that in the course of carrying out its duties, KEBS encounters administration, counterfeit intelligence, legal and supply chain challenges. Specific challenges being encountered were resources (both human and financial), lack of latest equipment for testing the products, lack of well trained.staff to the international standards, weak laws governing counterfeits, long legal process before cases relating to counterfeits products are disposed, lack of complain by the consumers of the ineffectiveness of the products, lack of international support in combating counterfeiting, high level of poverty and ignorance, porous borders and the prevalence of transit corridors as it facilitates the entry of counterfeits into the country, Kenya.
Among its key recommendations, the study proposed that the government ought to assert her full role in the protection of consumers, producers, importers, exporters and manufactures against the counterfeit traders. This could be through increased financial and human resources in the organizations like KEBS that were charged with the mitigative responsibilities. In addition these organizations should adopt new internationally approved technologies that fast-track counterfeit goods/products and engage in collaborative ventures with other countries in the globe that are fighting counterfeit trade. | en_US |
