Kenya plans to merge regulatory bodies handling counterfeiting, copyright and intellectual property rights into one body.
The Kenya Intellectual Property Bill, 2026 proposes the creation of the Kenya Intellectual Property Authority (KIPA), which would take over the functions of the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) and Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA).
The proposed merger marks one of the biggest shake-ups of Kenya’s intellectual property administration and is aimed at ending what the government describes as fragmented oversight, duplication of functions and inefficient enforcement.
The omnibus legislation seeks to consolidate laws governing patents, utility models, industrial designs, copyright and related rights, counterfeiting and intellectual property enforcement under one legal framework.
The changes could significantly alter how businesses, innovators, artists, inventors and rights holders register, protect and enforce their intellectual property.
Appearing before the National Assembly Trade Committee, the Principal Secretary for Industry Juma Mukwana said the reforms would strengthen the fight against counterfeiting and piracy while improving compliance with Kenya’s international obligations.
“The Bill is expected to strengthen enforcement against counterfeiting and piracy, enhance compliance with Kenya’s international obligations and promote public confidence in the intellectual property system,” said the PS.
The government also expects the unified framework to boost public confidence in the protection of intellectual property and make it easier for rights holders to navigate the system.
Under the proposed structure, KIPA would be responsible for administering intellectual property rights, creating a centralised system intended to improve coordination and reduce administrative overlaps between the three agencies.
The Bill also seeks to strengthen the commercialisation of intellectual property, innovation, traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, positioning intellectual property as a tool for economic growth rather than merely a legal protection mechanism.
For businesses, stronger enforcement could help curb losses linked to counterfeit goods, piracy and unauthorised use of protected technologies and brands.
The proposed law also targets emerging threats in the digital economy, including online copyright infringement and the role of digital platforms and intermediaries in facilitating intellectual property violations.
A new Intellectual Property Tribunal is also proposed to provide a specialised forum for resolving disputes and speed up the determination of intellectual property cases.
The government argues that stronger protection of intellectual property will encourage innovation, attract investment, facilitate technology transfer and support research and development.
The reforms are also expected to give a boost to Kenya’s growing creative economy by strengthening protection for creators and improving the ability to commercialise intellectual property locally and in international markets.
The Bill comes as businesses and rights holders face an increasingly complex environment in which counterfeit trade, digital piracy and unauthorised use of intellectual property are expanding across both physical and online markets.
If enacted, the legislation would place KIPA at the centre of Kenya’s intellectual property ecosystem, giving the new authority a broad mandate spanning registration, protection, enforcement and commercialisation.
The proposed merger therefore represents more than an administrative restructuring: it signals a government push to make intellectual property a more effective engine for investment, innovation and economic competitiveness.
