The Chairperson of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) Board of Directors, Josphat Gichunge Kabebea, has been charged at the Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi over allegations that he solicited and received bribes totalling Ksh 6.3 million to facilitate the release of seized counterfeit goods.
According to the court documents, the alleged bribery scheme unfolded over five days in November 2025, with Kabebea facing four counts under the Anti-Bribery Act No. 47 of 2023.
The prosecution claims that on November 11, 2025, Kabebea demanded an initial bribe of Ksh 5 million from businessman Du Zhisheng to “forego taking action and charging” him over accusations of dealing in counterfeit motor vehicle spare parts. The State further alleges that he went on to receive three separate payments Ksh 1 million on November 14, Ksh 300,000 on November 16, and an additional Ksh 144,500 via mobile money on the same day.
Kabebea also faces two charges under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act arising from the smallest payment. The prosecution says he knowingly acquired Ksh 144,500 through mobile money, believing it was the proceeds of bribery. An alternative count accuses him of being in possession of the same amount in his mobile phone account, allegedly knowing it was derived from corrupt activity.
He denied all the charges when he appeared before Principal Magistrate Celesa Okore. The court granted him a bond of Ksh 2 million with one surety, alongside a cash bail option of Ksh 1 million.
The case will proceed as anti-corruption investigators continue probing the alleged bribery network within the agency mandated to fight counterfeit trade in Kenya.
