Kenya's Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) partnered with government agencies and international bodies to host a webinar commemorating World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, 2021. The event focused on leveraging intellectual property (IP) to strengthen micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with a theme of "IP & SMEs: Taking your ideas to market."
John Onyango, managing director of the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), emphasized the need for SMEs to adapt to rapid technological changes. "The information age demands that we prepare to leverage these shifts to harness Kenya's industrial property rights potential," he stated. The webinar featured participation from MSME representatives, academia, and officials, including Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization, Trade, and Enterprise Development Betty Maina.
Five MSMEs, including Kibo Capital Group Limited, were recognized for successfully registering IP and using it to grow their businesses. KIPI has trained over 1,000 MSME owners since 2018, focusing on regional products like Kitui honey, Baringo's Koriema honey, Kisumu's fish leather, and Homa Bay's peanut butter. The institute also assists in branding and acquiring IP rights for local enterprises.
Maina highlighted the government's commitment to merging KIPI, the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), and the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) into a unified Kenya Intellectual Property Authority (KIPA). This consolidation aims to create a more efficient agency to protect IP rights. The Ministry also finalized the Intellectual Property Bill, 2020, to fast-track its enactment.
Kenya has implemented policies to support MSMEs, including the Micro and Small Enterprise Act No. 55 of 2012, which established the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA). A 2021 policy outlines seven key areas for MSME development: entrepreneurial culture, skills training, market access, financial services, infrastructure, startup facilitation, and formalization.
Lawrence Karanja, Chief Administrative Secretary, noted the theme aligns with Vision 2030 and the Big Four Agenda, emphasizing IP's role in transitioning to a knowledge-based economy. Samuel Matonda, CEO of KNCCI, urged entrepreneurs to apply IP strategies to grow their businesses, stating, "Innovation is the cornerstone of Kenya's economic future."
