Kenya Unveils National Framework to Combat KES 92 Billion Digital Piracy Losses
According to the report, digital piracy costs Kenya an estimated KES 92 billion (approximately US$712 million) annually, equivalent to about KES 252 million every day.
Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy has unveiled a national framework to combat digital piracy after receiving the report of the National Steering Committee on Digital Piracy. The report, submitted following a 100-day Rapid Results Initiative, outlines the economic impact of digital piracy and recommends a coordinated enforcement strategy involving government agencies, regulators, industry stakeholders, and civil society.
The National Steering Committee was established after the country’s first National Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Digital Piracy, convened by the Cabinet Secretary in March 2026. The committee brought together representatives from government, regulators, broadcasters, rights holders, internet service providers, academia, and civil society to develop a comprehensive national response to digital piracy.
According to the report, digital piracy costs Kenya an estimated KES 92 billion (approximately US$712 million) annually, equivalent to about KES 252 million every day. It also deprives the government of roughly KES 17 billion in annual tax revenue, while reducing earnings for musicians, filmmakers, authors, journalists, software developers, and sports broadcasters. The report further notes that digital piracy exposes consumers to malware, fraud, and identity theft and has become increasingly linked to transnational organised crime. It estimates that tackling the problem effectively could create or sustain more than 50,000 jobs across Kenya’s creative and technology sectors.
At the heart of the report is a proposed Inter-Agency Digital Piracy Enforcement Framework, which will be coordinated by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy. The framework will bring together the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), and the Copyright Tribunal to strengthen enforcement and ensure that copyright infringements are addressed promptly.
The recommendations place particular emphasis on protecting live sporting events and other premium content while introducing tougher measures against persistent commercial-scale infringers. The report also stresses that all enforcement actions should adhere to due process and remain consistent with Kenya’s constitutional protections for both intellectual property rights and freedom of expression.
As part of the next phase, the ministry announced that it will launch a nationwide public awareness campaign and begin developing a National Policy on Digital Piracy through a multi-stakeholder process. It will also work with the Attorney-General’s Office and the Kenya Copyright Board to align the committee’s legislative recommendations with the Copyright and Related Rights Bill, 2026, which is currently undergoing public consultation.
The Cabinet Secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting content creators, strengthening enforcement against those who profit from copyright infringement, and working with industry stakeholders to improve access to affordable legal digital content. The statement also acknowledged the contributions of the committee, led by Chairperson Mr. Waweru Kimani and Vice Chairperson Mr. Roy Gitahi, for delivering the report within the committee’s 100-day mandate.
