National Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Digital Piracy

Kenya is stepping up efforts to protect creators and strengthen the country’s creative economy amid rising concerns over digital piracy and revenue losses in the sector.

The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy Hon. William Kabogo Gitau officially opened the National Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Digital Piracy that brought together policymakers, industry players and technology partners, to discuss the growing challenge of digital Piracy and its impact on Kenya's digital economy.

He noted that protecting intellectual property, is not only a legal issue but also a key economic priority for countries seeking to build competitive digital economies citing that Kenya already has legal frameworks, including the Copyright Act and institutions such as the Kenya Copyright Board, but rapid technological changes and cross-border digital distribution continue to present new challenges.

The Cabinet Secretary highlighted that estimates indicate Kenya loses approximately Ksh 92 billion annually due to piracy and related intellectual property violations and Ksh 17.3 billion in potential tax revenue that could otherwise support national development.

Such forums provide a valuable platform to discuss practical solutions for strengthening the protection of creative works in the digital environment informing future strategies aimed at protecting creators, attracting investment and supporting the growth of Kenya’s creative and digital economy.

In attendance were, Mike Stano - Chair Partners Against Piracy, Micheal Schlesinger - Vice President Motion Pictures Association, Elena Blobel - Director of Litigation at International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), George Nyakweba - Ag. Executive Director Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), representatives from Communication Authority of Kenya (CA), Media Council of Kenya (MCK), among other government officials and industry leaders.