The Kenya Intellectual Property Authority Bill, 2026, now tabled before the National Assembly, proposes to merge the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), and the Anti‑Counterfeit Authority (ACA) into a single, modern regulator: the Kenya Intellectual Property Authority (KIPA). This consolidation signals a strategic move toward a unified IP ecosystem that can better support creators, innovators, and businesses, and is understood to be an effort by Government to merge state corporations with overlapping mandates, and also to meet other constitutional obligations for the protection, promotion, and support of IP rights, including the protection of local communities’ IP rights, biodiversity and traditional knowledge.

Once in force, KIPA will have authority to register and grant IP rights; regulate imports and manufacturing through an IP recordal system; combat piracy and counterfeiting, and generally promote IP awareness. The Bill seeks to introduce:

  1. One central authority for Patents, Utility Models, Industrial Designs, Trade Marks, Copyright, related rights, and Anti‑Counterfeiting enforcement.
  2. Integrated IP registration and recordal systems (and reaffirms the ACA’s current recordal system (mandatory for import of goods into Kenya).
  3. Enforcement tools against piracy and counterfeits.
  4. Revised recognition for emerging technologies, including Patents and Industrial Designs, and introduces new definitions for AI‑assisted 和 AI‑generated inventions.
  5. A unified IP Tribunal for IP disputes and appeals, intended to improve consistency and reduce delays in dispute resolution.
  6. Enhanced protection for copyright, genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and cultural expressions.

Potential impact

If the Kenya Intellectual Property Authority Bill is passed, the new law will repeal the existing Industrial Property Act, 2001 (governing Patents and Industrial Designs), the Copyright Act, 2001 and the Anti-Counterfeiting Act, 2008.  It also affirms that the existing Trade Marks Act (Cap. 506) and Geographical Indications Bill, 2026 (the latter still under consideration by the National Assembly) will be administered by the new Authority.

It is envisaged that KIPA will streamline processes, reduce duplication, and strengthen Kenya’s position as a regional leader in innovation, creative industries, and IP enforcement.

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