Anti-Counterfeit Authority Issues Directives to Shiquo Hii Style to Avoid Raids

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has today issued a formal set of directives to Shiquo Hii Style and her retail business, aimed at preventing future enforcement actions and ensuring full alignment with Kenya’s intellectual property laws.

The directives follow recent videos, media reports and social media discussions concerning an alleged counterfeit goods enforcement operation involving Shiquo’s business. While the ACA does not comment on active investigations, the Authority has moved to provide a compliance pathway for the entrepreneur.

“The ACA does not target legitimate businesses. Our enforcement actions are reserved solely for trade in counterfeit goods,” the Authority stated. “To help Ms. Shiqou Hii Style avoid future raids, we have issued clear, lawful directives that any trader can follow to demonstrate authenticity and compliance.”

The new directives issued to Shiquo Hii Style include: She must provide verifiable records, including invoices, import declarations, and proof of authorisation from brand rights holders for all branded products in her inventory. All products sold must bear marks that do not unlawfully reproduce or imitate registered trademarks without authorisation. The business is required to confirm trademark status through the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) database.

Where requested, Shiquo must allow rights holders or their authorised representatives to conduct technical verification of goods to confirm genuineness. The business is encouraged to ensure that any legitimate suppliers have recorded their trademarks with the ACA’s database to facilitate faster market surveillance and reduce false positives during inspections.

The Authority directs her to pursue trademark registration through KIPI, after which the ACA will stand ready to enforce her exclusive rights against counterfeiters.

If Shiquo provides satisfactory documentation proving that her goods are genuine and lawfully acquired, the ACA will release all seized products to her and close the investigation with no further action. Future raids will be avoided entirely, provided ongoing compliance is maintained.

Failure to comply with the directives or continued sale of goods that unlawfully bear registered trademarks without authorisation will result in continued enforcement actions, including further seizures, inspection orders and legal proceedings before courts.

Under the Anti-Counterfeit Act, counterfeit goods are defined as products that unlawfully reproduce or imitate registered intellectual property without authorisation. The ACA is empowered to conduct inspections, detentions, and seizures where reasonable grounds exist. However, traders retain the right to challenge any action in court.

“An ongoing investigation is not a final determination. The law provides every trader an opportunity to prove the authenticity of their goods,” the ACA noted. “We urge the public to distinguish between enforcement activity and a judicial outcome.”

The ACA reiterated that Kenya’s intellectual property system is designed to protect creators, innovators, and honest entrepreneurs. Traders who source from legitimate suppliers, maintain proper documentation, and respect intellectual property laws have nothing to fear.

“Shiquo has expressed an entrepreneurial vision to grow her own brand. That is exactly what Kenya’s IP framework encourages. We invite her and all traders to register their trademarks with KIPI and record them with the ACA. That is the surest way to avoid future raids and build lasting, valuable business assets.”