Anti-Counterfeit Authority crackdown on fake ball bearings

A view of Kirinyaga road in downtown Nairobi.Photo/FILE The Anti-Counterfeit Authority on Monday seized 2,000 fake ball bearings worth Sh10 million in Kirinyaga road in a crackdown. One spare parts dealer was arrested. This comes a week after motorists raised the alarm on the rise in trade of spurious spare parts. The authority’s inspectors said the growing ring of rogue dealers were purchasing cheap ball bearings from China and repackaging them as genuine parts using known brands. “This is a case of trademark infringement because the seals and imprints on the pieces held are forged to appear as genuine,” ACA inspector Sammy Sarich said. SKF brand protection director Tina Astom said the fake parts are pale, brittle and have a shorter lifespan. “The biggest concern is safety because they can cause damage in a vehicle from braking failure to triggering a fire,” she said. Less than 30 per cent of spare parts sold in Kenya are considered genuine.