Millions Lost: Anti-Counterfeit Authority Raid Shiquo Hii Style’s Shop, Seize Knockoff Sneakers

Officers from the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) have raided
Shiquo Hii Style’s store in Nairobi’s Central Business District, confiscating counterfeit sneakers worth millions of shillings in a major blow to the illicit trade of fake international sportswear brands.

The operation targeted Shiquo’s shop located at RNG Plaza, a dedicated footwear outlet that the businesswoman had classified separately from her other retail ventures. Acting on intelligence, ACA officers swept into the premises and carted away massive quantities of knockoff sneakers, leaving the shop entirely empty.

Shiquo, who took to social media shortly after the raid, did not dispute the nature of the goods but instead issued a warning to fellow traders. She admitted the loss was devastating, “Today I lost stock, but I gained a story that might save another business. I’m devastated it happened, but grateful I can now help others prepare for it,” Shiquo posted.

“Every piece of shoe was taken because they were counterfeit. So we have to start again, re-learn, rebuild, and do it again. If you are dealing with anything like this, it will make you go back to the village because when they come, they carry everything. No amount of complaining, crying, and blaming will help you. We are restructuring and we have to move on. It is a very big loss.”

She advised other traders to consider legitimate manufacturing, adding, “I never knew I would be the lesson many Kenyans needed. Start your own manufacturing businesses.”

In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the agency said, “At the @ACA_Kenya , we are committed to courtesy, transparency, and excellence in service delivery. Our Service Charter outlines the standards you can expect from us, including timelines for responding to correspondence, resolving complaints, handling intellectual property infringement reports, and processing supplier payments.”