A new draft law before Parliament seeks to tighten action against illegal streaming of movies, television shows and live sports in Kenya.

The proposed legislation would allow authorities and copyright owners to compel internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to piracy websites within a short period.

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The proposal is contained in the Copyright and Related Rights Bill, 2026, which aims to strengthen the enforcement of copyright laws in the digital space.

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The draft framework was published by the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) as part of efforts to address online piracy affecting the entertainment and broadcasting industries.
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48-Hour Deadline for Internet Providers

Under the proposed law, internet providers would be required to disable access to websites distributing pirated content within 48 hours after receiving a valid complaint from a copyright owner.
The Bill also proposes that the Copyright Disputes Tribunal handle applications from rights holders seeking orders to block such websites.

The tribunal would be expected to determine these requests within 72 hours, allowing quicker intervention when copyrighted material is shared illegally online.
If an order is issued, ISPs, search engines, social media platforms and video-sharing services would be required to disable access to the offending online locations.

Failure to comply could attract fines of up to Sh200,000, with repeat violations attracting penalties of up to Sh500,000 per offence.
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Focus on Movies and Live Sports

The proposed legislation specifically targets piracy involving films, television programmes and live sports broadcasts, which rights holders say are frequently shared through illegal streaming sites.
The Bill would also allow copyright owners to seek pre-emptive injunctions to block unauthorized streams before or during live events such as sports matches.
Online intermediaries would also be required to adopt policies for handling repeat copyright infringements. These could include notifying users about violations, tracking repeated offences and terminating accounts responsible for persistent breaches.

Background to the Proposal

Illegal streaming has become widespread in Kenya, particularly for premium sports content and subscription television channels.

The practice has affected Pay-TV operators that rely on subscriber revenue.

In a previous case, Pay-TV operator MultiChoice sought court orders requiring internet providers to block 141 websites that were streaming sports content without permission.

The dispute took several years before the High Court ordered the sites to be permanently blocked in 2022.

Data from the Communications Authority of Kenya shows that many households with pay-TV decoders are not active subscribers, a trend industry players have partly linked to the availability of pirated streaming platforms.

The proposed law is currently under consideration as part of broader efforts to update Kenya’s copyright framework and strengthen enforcement against online piracy.