Kenya has the foundation to be a leader in IP in the Global South
Kenya is strategically at a position of leadership in Intellectual Property.
These utterances were made by the Director General of World Intellectual Property Organization, Daren Tang, when he delivered a Public Lecture at the University of Nairobi on Friday, June 6, 2025.
‘Kenya has got entrepreneurial energy and a young and vibrant Population. Kenya has the foundation to be a leader in IP in the Global South. Kenya is one of the few countries in the world that has IP protection on Article 45 of the constitution. Kenya takes IP seriously. The challenge then is, how WIPO can support Kenya in terms of tools, support, and policies. WIPO will help the Government to address these issues at the Policy level.’
When you think of innovation nowadays, don’t think in Silos. Think wholesomely in terms of the Industry. I have been informed that the Government of Kenya has planned to merge the Government Agencies that deal with Intellectual Property Management, and this is a good move because Innovation should be managed wholesomely, emphasized DG Tang.
WIPO has committed to increasing awareness of Intellectual Property and has pledged to mentor business owners, DG Darren Tang highlighted, ‘Let’s continue to raise awareness of IP, mentoring business owners through a one-on-one one-year journey with business owners on branding and marketing, and to enlighten them on the entrepreneurial journey.’
The Vice-Chancellor, UoN, Prof. Jesang Hutchinson who was represented by Prof. Francis Mulaa, noted that , ‘The University has an active Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office established under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Division. During the last five years, the University has filed 122 applications for Intellectual Property Rights under the following categories: 11 Patents, 44 Utility Models, 26 Copyrights, 18 Trade Marks, and 23 New Plant Varieties.
During the same period, the University has also commercialized 14 IPs and is in the process of commercializing 16 innovations. During the last two years, the University of Nairobi has licensed nine technologies to industry in the area of agriculture and food technologies.’
Present during the Public Lecture was Government officials from KIPI, Mr. Hasan Kleib - Deputy Director General, Regional and National Development, Sector (RNDS), Ms. Altayework Tedla Desta, Director, IP eLearning and Internal Training Program, WIPO Academy, RNDS, Ms. Loretta Asiedu, Acting Director, Division for Africa, Department for Development Cooperation, RNDS, and Mr. Rama Mwanundu, Associate Program Officer, Department for Development Cooperation, Division for Africa, RNDS.
