Artists and creatives in Kenya have been urged to seize opportunities in the creative economy by securing their rights through intellectual property (IP) protections.
This rallying call was made on Friday during the IP day workshop in Nairobi ahead of the World Intellectual Property Day 2025 celebrations set to take place on 26th of April under the global theme “IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP.”
John Onyango, the Managing Director of the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), urged the artists to embrace intellectual property rights as a crucial tool for wealth creation and protection.
“Music is not just entertainment, it’s a powerful sector for employment and wealth creation, not only in Kenya, but globally. We call on the youth to seize the moment, protect their creative works, and shape the future,” said Mr. Onyango.
He emphasized that the music sector, has increasingly become a major contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), noting that the workshop and the IP day celebrations are not just about celebrating intellectual property but also about equipping the participants with the tools to protect and leverage their creative works.
“The future of Kenya’s creative economy hinges on how well we protect the intellectual property of artists and innovators. Through copyrights, patents, and trademarks, creators can ensure that their work is protected from exploitation and infringement, thereby creating opportunities for innovation and wealth generation,” Onyango Stated.
He also highlighted KIPI’s role in promoting inventiveness through the regulation of patents, utility models, industrial designs, and trademarks. The MD urged the youth, who make up a large portion of the music industry, to take full advantage of the creative opportunities available.
“Feel the beat of intellectual property, protect it, and let it empower you,” Onyango concluded, encouraging the participants to take action and use the knowledge gained during the workshop to secure their place in the global creative economy.
Allan Kosgei, KIPI’s Chairman, called for a cultural shift for Kenya’s young creators urging them to begin to see intellectual property not as an abstract legal concept but as a tool for economic freedom and self-assertion.
Kosgei framed IP as more than protection noting that it’s a platform. He challenged the youth own their beat, a push to take control of creative expression, register it, and claim space in an economy increasingly driven by ideas.
Beyond the music, Kosgei pointed to the new and exciting fields of artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and renewable energy as rich ground for intellectual growth and monetization. This points out that Kenya’s youth must not only dream but also document, define, and defend their innovations, through which they could transition from consumers to contributors in the global innovation chain.
He further called upon the youths and artists to participate in celebrating World Intellectual Property Day, an event which he said isn’t just a celebration, but a mirror for the youth to see what’s possible when creativity meets protection.
Janet Kisio, the Acting Deputy Managing Director of Corporate Services and Manager Trademarks at KIPI, welcomed the participants and reiterated the importance of the session. She commended the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry for its continuous support of initiatives aimed at strengthening intellectual property enforcement. Kisio encouraged the attendees to actively participate in such workshops and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge shared.
“Intellectual property protection is a tool for economic empowerment. As artists, it is essential to understand how IP works so that you can safeguard your creations and make the most out of them. These workshops give an important opportunity to engage and learn from industry experts who can help you navigate the complex world of IP,” said Kisio.
Focussing to the music industry, a sector that has been at the forefront of the intellectual property discourse in Kenya, Agnes Karingo, a representative from the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), noted the growing concerns over piracy and unauthorized distribution of music, which undermines the financial potential of artists. She acknowledged challenges specifically within the music industry suggesting that IP enforcement could offer the desired solutions amongst the artists.
“Music is not just an art form; it’s an economic engine,” Karingo said noting that KECOBO plays a key role in helping creators register their works and protect their copyrights. She also emphasized that copyright registration makes it easier to enforce legal rights in cases of infringement.
“We must collectively ensure that the value of intellectual property is recognized and respected, not only to protect the creators but also to ensure that Kenya’s creative industry continues to thrive on the global stage,” said Karingo.
The issue of piracy was also addressed by Yussuf Osman Ahmed, Director of Enforcement at the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), who stressed that the ACA has been actively involved in the fight against piracy, which is a major concern for artists, especially in the music and film industries.
“The music industry has been severely impacted by counterfeiting and piracy. Our role as ACA is to collaborate with KIPI, KECOBO, and other enforcement agencies to protect the intellectual property of Kenyan artists. We understand that the creative economy is a pillar of our nation’s development, and it is essential that we work together to safeguard it,” he said.
He stated that music industry alone loses about Ksh 15 billion annually as a result of piracy and counterfeiting, money which could go into the pockets of artists.
“We did research with the Kenya Copyright Board, and we found that the music industry alone loses approximately Ksh 15 billion annually due to piracy and counterfeiting. That is a lot of money that could go into the pockets of our artists, music producers, and stakeholders, he stated
He further disclosed that the entire creative economy losses approximately Ksh 50 billion annually as a result of unprotected intellectual property stating, “If we extrapolate that to the entire creative economy, including film, fashion, photography, and so on, we are looking at close to Ksh 50 billion being lost annually due to unprotected intellectual property.”
However, despite enforcement measures put in place, Osman stated that there is need to scale them up and make them more sustainable.
“Just last month, through a joint operation between the Anti-Counterfeit Authority, KECOBO, and the National Police Service, we intercepted counterfeit goods valued at over 37 million shillings in Nairobi. These included fake designer clothing, pirated CDs, and unlicensed software. This is a clear indication that enforcement is working, but we need to scale it up and make it more sustainable,” he said.
Osman further added that ACA’s efforts go beyond enforcement, with a focus on raising awareness and educating both creators and the public on the importance of respecting intellectual property rights.
He encouraged artists to take proactive steps in ensuring their works are registered and properly protected, especially in the digital space where piracy remains rampant.
On his part, Sammy Lewa, a Senior Patent Examiner at KIPI, took the artists through IP protections such as patents, utility models, industrial designs, and trademarks, highlighting how they can be applied to the music industry, particularly in the context of music production and the design of musical instruments.
“Musicians often overlook the potential of protecting their innovations beyond copyrights. For example, an inventor of a new musical instrument can patent their creation, while the aesthetic design of a musical instrument or album cover can be protected through industrial designs,” he explained.
Lewa explained that patents and utility models are ideal for new inventions, such as improved musical instruments, while copyrights cover the creative content itself, such as lyrics and compositions. He encouraged artists to be proactive in seeking IP protection, particularly in the context of Kenya’s growing music industry.
