18/05/2022
Kisumu, 18th May 2022.
Motorcycle Assembling Plant Raided and 54 Counterfeit Boda Bodas Siezed
The Anti-Counterfeit Authority Inspectors busted a motrobike assembling go-down and shop in Homabay Town and seized 54 suspected counterfeit Motorcycles worth Ksh. 7,020,000. The go-down and shop identified as Ndisimart Enterprises Ltd was assembling motorcycles going by the trademark counterfeit Bajaj Boxer which were passed off as original to unsuspecting customers.
The raid followed a complaint lodged by Mr. Paul Ramara of Spoors and Fischer Law firm the Agents of the Indian origin brand of motorbikes. Upon receipt of his complaint that was made in the Kisumu Regional office, the ACA Inspectors raided the premises and managed to confirm the allegations. Mr. Ramara clarified that ‘All Bajaj Boxer Motorbikes are made in India as opposed to China as in this case’.
Confirming the raid, the Kisumu and Western Kenya ACA Region Inspector Mr. Weldone Sigei said the raid was a great concern among motorcycle dealers and cyclists in the country. Investigations also established that the business had been in operation for some time. Mr. Sigei cautioned cyclists saying that “Counterfeiting does not only cause economic harm and unfair business practice, it also defrauds consumers and poses danger to public safety”. He added that the usage of fake spare parts could be responsible for most vehicular accidents in the country. He advised traders to always sell genuine parts saying that dealers were critical stakeholders in ensuring safety on our roads.
When asked how an ordinary consumer would know if the parts of a motorcycle are counterfeit or original, Mr.Sigei cautioned cyclist to buy motorbikes and spares from authorized dealers and beware of price discounts from suspicious sources. He added that consumers need to scrutinize products physically for unfamiliar packaging, misspelling of names or fonts or sound and vibrations produced by counterfeit parts.
Goods were taken to Aca Kenya Depot for processing. It's an offence under the Anti-Counterfeit Act 2008 to trade or produce counterfeit goods. If convicted, penalties prescribed by law ar a fine not《 than 3 times the value of the goods & or jail term not exceeding 3 years or both.
Mr. Paul Ramara the Bajaj/ Boxer Agent said that the original manufacturers had invested in Research and Development and studied how problems concerning counterfeit motorcycles or motor parts relate to accidents. He said that after disassembling a number of counterfeit or copycat motorcycles and studying their parts, it was discovered that the interiors were very rusty and the bolts were not firmly tightened so they tend to disengage easily and as such can pose accidents to users’.
He added that “since counterfeit parts don’t usually confirm to safety and conformity to standards, there is a high likelihood that fake parts won’t work well like original and may not work well with other genuine parts”. This is a serious issue since these incompatibilities often result in motorcycles with inferior body structure and vibration and hence accidents and increased tear and wear costs.”
