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{
    "id": 833486,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/833486/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 105,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is an important Report that deals with such an emotive issue that is ongoing. The Report is about the fight against counterfeit and contraband goods, having been presented by importers and traders from Nairobi, through their Senator, Sen. Sakaja. Before I say anything about the Report, I think we need to relook at the Standing Orders. I am saying this for the Rules and Procedures Committee, so that when such a report is presented, a Motion is prepared to debate it. I will comment on this Report because I had just five minutes to look at it. Even the Senator for Nairobi City County has not been furnished with a copy, so that he can read it on behalf of those who sent him to petition the Senate and appreciate whether it captures their concerns and issues. Secondly, I want to talk about the issue of counterfeit goods. I am speaking as the founding board member of the Anti-Counterfeit Agency that was created to fight counterfeit goods in this country. There is a lot of apprehension out there and complaints from traders that their goods are being destroyed under the guise of fighting counterfeit goods. However, there is confusion about what is counterfeit, substandard and generally contraband. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, goods being counterfeit does not mean they are substandard. It is a question of intellectual property ownership. The debate is on who is the manufacturer of that good. You can have pens labeled “Bic”, but the company that manufactures Bic pens complains that they never manufactured them. So, some people are passing them off using their trademark. You can have goods that are in violation of patent or copyright. Somebody could be selling a book called “ International Law as Applied in Africa” by Kithure Kindiki, but the reality is that, that book was written by, say, Kipchumba Murkomen ."
}