Patent rights in Kenya are granted by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute, covering inventions that fulfill novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
The standard patent term is 20 years from the filing date, subject to payment of annual maintenance fees.
Applicants must submit a specification, claims, and relevant technical documentation.
A substantive examination is conducted to verify compliance with patentability requirements.
Kenya is both a contracting party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and a member of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO). As such, patent protection may be sought either by entering the PCT national phase or by designating Kenya through the ARIPO regional route under the Harare Protocol.
Upon grant, a patent holder may pursue legal remedies against unauthorized use or exploitation of the invention within Kenya.