Kenya Copyright Board

04/09/2026

KECOBO hereby invites applications from organizations that meet the requirements of CMOs under the Copyright Act cap 130 (https://tinyurl.com/4emnsrfx) and the Copyright (Collective Management) Regulations 2020 (https://tinyurl.com/4v3zt73w ).
Note that the applications must be done through eCitizen (https://copyright.ecitizen.go.ke/) and hardcopies of the same application delivered to our offices

03/09/2026

Protecting Your Creative Work with Agreements

Copyright and Contracts 101

Are you a copyright holder looking to safeguard your creative work? Understand the vital role of contracts in preserving your intellectual property rights.

In this video, learn the fundamental principles of contracts, including party capacity, offers, legal considerations, mutual agreement and legality of objectives.
Understand the key elements that should be included in your contract, such as party details, rights and properties, responsibilities, payment terms, confidentiality, amendments, warranties, termination clauses, dispute resolution, governing law, duration, and the significance of signatures.

02/09/2026

Introduction to Intellectual Property – Understanding Copyright

In this engaging conversation, we explore the world of intellectual property (IP) and copyright, providing valuable insights for creators, innovators, and artists.

Join us as we discuss essential topics, including what intellectual property encompasses, the importance of copyright, the types of works protected, the rights it grants and the benefits of registering your IP. We also explore exceptions to copyright and where you can register your IP in Kenya.

01/09/2026

Ni vipi utamake pesa kutokana na copyright yako?

31/08/2026

Lest you forget, the deadline is tomorrow September 1, 2026. Please take action

Reference is made to the tender notice published on MyGov Newspaper on 11th August, 2026 and subsequently uploaded on the KECOBO website.
Pursuant to Section II (B) of the Instructions to Tenderers, Clause 10 of the Amendment of Tender Document, we hereby amend the following for your attention.

28/08/2026

Who are these individuals in reference to copyright in the music industry and what rights do they enjoy?

Artist and Repertoire Manager

This is normally an employee of the label/ company who decides to sign the artist and guide him through the major label experience. He listens to the demo songs of an artist and determines the viability of the songs. He is normally an employee of the record company or hired by the same. It is interesting to note that to a certain extent, the A&R manager has a role similar to that of an Independent Producer but the former has no rights whatsoever and he is normally paid a salary or one-off payment by the recording company.

Composer

Composer means the person who writes the musical score in a song. The composer has the right in the melody while the author has the rights in lyrics. The composer’s rights are covered by publishing agreements as well as being protected under the Copyright Act once it has been reduced to any material form including digital and transient copies. Rights are similar to those of the author.

Distributor

He distributes the records and albums. May also have a distribution agreement with the recording company but ordinarily makes his money from the sales of the works.

Agent

Agents are people who usually work on behalf of the artists to secure record deals, publishing contracts and live performances among other things. The agents scout around for the recording deals and secure contracts for performances.

27/08/2026

Can the Rights in Audiovisual be Transferred to Other Parties?

Since copyright is protected like any other property, it can be transferred from one party to another through sale, licences or inheritance. Economic rights can only be transferred by written contracts. The rights can be transferred as a bundle of rights, or specific rights, for instance, the owner can transfer the rights of distribution and retain the right of reproduction. The producer cannot transfer his/her moral rights.
Licences have to be in writing and they must have specific terms and conditions. For instance, the producer can licence the exhibition of the film in film theatres for a specific period of time and for determined consideration. They may also licence a third party to reproduce and make the film available to the public on a specific platform including streaming the content online.
Most licensing agreements have provisions for payment of royalties for the use of the work. Once the producer sells the audiovisual work, he/she cannot subsequently claim it and cannot control how the third party chooses to exploit it, as it is no longer his/her property. He/she retains the moral rights, as these are not transferrable.
The assignment can be limited to certain rights but the terms have to be clearly stated in a written contract.
The performers or other performers in audiovisual performances can transfer their rights to the producer through written contracts.

26/08/2026

Who is responsible for enforcement of copyright in Kenya?

The main responsibility for enforcement falls on the rights holder since copyright is a private right.
However, collaboration between the rights holders and the law enforcement agencies is important. The Kenya Copyright Board, whose key mandate is to administer and enforce copyright and related rights, has an enforcement department that works with the rights holders and other law enforcement agencies such as the police to ensure that the rights are protected and enforced.

What is the role of the Kenya Copyright Board?

The Kenya Copyright Board is a state corporation established under section 3 of the Copyright Act Cap 130 laws of Kenya. Its mandate is the overall administration and enforcement of copyright and related rights.
The Board carries out public awareness, enforcement, registration of copyright, licensing of Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) and education on matters of copyright industries.
Rights holders and users are expected to work with the Bard to ensure proper administration and enforcement of copyright as well as create an enabling environment for growth of copyright industries in Kenya.

25/08/2026

KECOBO’S POWERS OVER COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS

The Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) is established under section 3 of the Copyright Act and derives its functions from section 5 of the Act.
The role of KECOBO as a regulator and a licensing authority is further explained by Section 46 of the Copyright Act.
KECOBO has three roles as set out in section 46 of the Act:
KECOBO has three roles as set out in section 46 of the Act:
1. Licensing of the collective management organizations.
2. Overseeing the operations of Collective Management Organizations.
3. Facilitating the process of tariff setting
The Copyright Act provides that Collective Management Organizations can be set up and licensed by KECOBO.
Further, under section 46E of Copyright Act, the Board as a Regulator has a supervisory role of inspection and control of all the Collective Management Organizations. The Act gives powers to the Executive Director to authorize in writing the inspection of the books of accounts and records of a Collective Management Organization on request by members.
The person authorized to inspect shall report on any breach or non-observance of the Copyright Act and Regulations, any irregularity, and any apparent mismanagement. Where the Board finds out from the results of the forensic audit that a Collective Management Organization have conducted their business contrary to the provisions of the Copyright Act, the Board may issue directions and orders as provided for under section 46F (1) (a) to (I).
KECOBO also facilitates in the process of setting of tariffs and ultimately preparing the tariff for Gazette Notice by the Cabinet Secretary responsible for Copyright matters before implementation thereof.
By virtue of the Collective Management Organizations being a corporate entity, the Registrar of Companies also has certain regulatory powers over the organization.

24/08/2026

KECOBO’s Board of Directors held a Special Board Meeting today August 24, 2026 and reviewed KAMP’s responses on the issues that had been raised by the Board and noted that KAMP has not complied nor addressed the issues raised to the satisfaction of the Board.
Consequently, the Board decided to uphold the suspension of the license until the issues raised are addressed. Further, to strengthen management, collection and distribution of royalties by the CMO, the Board is taking the following further administrative actions:👇
HON. Joshua Kutuny