Vivo Energy Kenya has launched an Anti-Counterfeit platform that will enable consumers to verify the authenticity of Shell lubricants.
The Anti-Counterfeit platform dubbed ‘JAZIKA NA SHELL’ will also give consumers an opportunity to earn and accumulate points which they can redeem for airtime, shopping vouchers, KPLC tokens and other gifts.
Speaking today during the launch at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, Managing Director (MD) Vivo Energy, Peter Murungi said that counterfeiting of engine oils has become a lucrative business in the country.
“According to the Anti-Counterfeit agency in Kenya, counterfeits have claimed over 20 percent of the petroleum market including fuels and lubricants whereby people mix different products and sell,” said Murungi.
The MD said that oil marketing companies must take all necessary precautions to avoid oil volume loss and guard markets against potential reputational damage.
“We are also using customers, occasions and law enforcement to try and stop the criminal business with an assurance that our consumers get the best products,” he said.
He added that buying the Shell products in turn supports the ‘Buy Kenya, Build Kenya’ initiative since Shell lubricants are blended at Mombasa Shell lubricant Blending Plant which is operated by Kenyans.
“Over 95 percent of the Shell lubricants you are seeing here come from Mombasa and not imported,” Murungi added.
He noted that the employment created by Shell goes in line with the government’s initiative of having factories in the country to help in creating sources of income.
Murungi urged members of the public to participate in this campaign to make sure that the market is having legitimate Shell products going into their cars, generators, motorbikes and other machines.
Vivo Energy has developed Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) platform that will enable consumers to verify if the Shell lubricants they have purchased in the market are genuine by dialing *459*200# and inserting the code under the seal of the lubricant’s cap.
