Origicheck chief technology officer Ondieki Obare (left), Origicheck CEO Haron Kiriba (right) and Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry trade development manager Peter Biwott (C) during the launch of Origicheck, anti-counterfeit solution that helps manufacturers track their product in the market. FILE
According to Mr Kiriba, the labels can be used on all products irrespective of the colour, shape, and size of an item. The labels are priced per item and cost between one and five shillings depending on the manufacturers’ requests.
“We did research, trying to read the mind of the counterfeiter, to figure out what products are mostly counterfeited and how best to launch the war against this threat,” Mr Kiriba said.
He has therefore ensured that in the event of a duplication of labels or a fake product, the system helps locate the enquiring consumer, and narrows down to the specific outlet distributing the product.
From fake phones to illicit alcoholic drinks, the Kenyan market has been raided by unscrupulous traders who are turning counterfeiting into a multi-billion shillings business.
For Mr Haron Kiriba to succeed in his business of importing special light bulbs that can stay on for about six hours after a power blackout, he knew that he had to surmount the potential influx of fakes.
