Police and anti-counterfeit officials have raided a private homestead in Juja, Kiambu county, and seized suspected counterfeit electronic items.
The goods were hidden in the basement of the home in Mutundu estate along the Juja-Gatundu Road.
Anti-counterfeit agency officials have been investigating unauthorised replication and sale of electronics products. They include sound mixers, power mixers, amplifiers and speakers.
Investigation into the matter was conducted to protect unsuspecting customers and manufacturers. The alarming trend is said to be posing a significant threat to consumers, who may buy untested and substandard products, not to mention the economic interests of manufacturers.
Manufacturers have been urging the anti-counterfeit agency to act swiftly to help uphold the integrity of the market and protect unsuspecting customers.
The counterfeits include imitation of Yamaha brands and non-Yamaha products, those of Peavey company, Crest Audio, Behringer, JBL and Nexo .
The counterfeiters are accused of affixing the trademark on original products that fall outside the range of products officially produced by various companies.
“This misrepresentation is damaging both to consumers who may unknowingly purchase substandard goods and to Yamaha's brand image," Yamaha said in a statement.
"Affected products are Yamaha branded microphones, drumsticks, powered mixers, Yamaha analogue mixers, Yamaha branded guitars, branded drums, branded amplifiers and branded loud speakers.”
The companies want the government, through the anti-counterfeit agency, to take appropriate administrative and statutory actions to address the matter promptly.
“There have been an increased copy of JBL products being imported into Kenya and would ask your assistance and support given to them to eradicate the above stated menace currently prevailing in the market," JBL said in a statement.
"Help us maintain the quality and good name of our cherished brand, having been painstakingly built for many years.”
The authority said the products are being counterfeited using a harmful lead metal, which is dangerous to human health.
By using lead to make such products, the illicit traders are said to be selling the fake products at quarter the price of the original products.
