The proposed Geographical Indications Bill, 2026 seeks to introduce a system that formally links products to their places of origin, offering legal protection and strengthening producers’ positions in both local and international markets. This marks an important development in Kenya’s intellectual property landscape and raises key questions around ownership, enforcement, and the commercialisation of place-based products.
This webinar highlights key provisions, practical implications, and areas that may require further refinement for the Bill. The discussion expounded on the importance of GI’s in the Kenyan context, particularly in enabling producers to capture greater value from their products and in protecting cultural identity and place-based knowledge.
While Kenya’s GI Bill, 2026 represents a significant and long-awaited step towards strengthening protection for Kenyan origin products, careful attention will be needed to ensure clarity, coherence, and effective implementation. Doing so will be critical in enabling producers to fully benefit from GI protection and in positioning Kenyan products more competitively in both local and global markets.
