On 13^th June 2023, the KEPSA Chairperson Ms Flora Mutahi joined other stakeholders in the opening ceremony of the 1^st International Symposium on IP Protection and Enforcement at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi. Themed ‘Spurring digital - driven economies by addressing IP infringement and related forms of illicit trade,’ the three-day symposium brought together policymakers, judicial officers, enforcers, leading academic scientists, research scholars and practitioners to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

Despite numerous legislative and regulatory frameworks, illicit trade has continued to thrive over the years, with statistics showing that illicit trade has increased seven times faster than legal trade. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the parallel economy of illicit trade represents between 15% - 20% of global GDP. IP infringement and illicit trade, therefore, do not only have a significant negative impact on consumers' health and safety but also effects investment and productivity.

In his remarks, the Principal Secretary State Department of Industrialization Dr Juma Mukhwana noted that the government recognised the role played by intellectual property in economic growth while calling for enhanced partnerships to ensure IPR protection and enforcement. “Partnerships are essential in address the emerging challenges of IP theft. I look forward to sustainable solutions to this menace,” He remarked.

The Chair of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) Hon. Josephat Kabeabea cautioned that the threat to Kenya by the increased reported IP infringement is real and continued to grow every year. He said that the latest Intellectual property crime study by ACA on the extent of counterfeiting and other forms of illicit trade in Kenya showed the value of counterfeit trade at Sh100 billion in 2018, figure economists say could be more and increasing each year.

Speaking at the conference, Ms Flora Mutahi, who is also the former Chair of ACA, welcomed the government’s renewed efforts to work with the private sector in the protection and enforcement of IPR for economic development. She also noted that the private sector and investors looked forward to support the initiative of having a reliable IP regime to create jobs and employment for Kenyans.