Nairobi will host the 7th All Africa Intellectual Property Summit from November 11–13, 2026, with discussions expected to focus on how the continent can derive greater economic value from its innovations, brands and creative works.
The summit will examine the role of intellectual property (IP) in transforming Africa’s trade, industrial and creative economies under the theme: “Africa is Creating, Trading and Innovating: Is Africa Owning the Value?”
Sand Mba-Kalu, Chairman of the All Africa Intellectual Property Summit organising committee, confirmed the dates and theme during a briefing in Nairobi on August 13.
He said Africa remains rich in ideas but captures limited value from the intellectual property it generates, leaving innovators, farmers, artists and creators vulnerable to exploitation and lost economic opportunities.
“The continent is rich in ideas but poor in ownership. We want to help farmers, creators, artists, musicians… turn an item into an asset, an asset into an enterprise, an enterprise into a sustainable job and wealth,” Mba-Kalu said.
The cost of piracy
Africa continues to face significant challenges in protecting and commercialising intellectual property, including counterfeiting, piracy, weak enforcement and limited awareness among creators and businesses.
Sharon Chahale-Wata, Deputy Executive Director in charge of Training and Research at the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), said financial constraints continue to affect the board’s ability to fully execute its mandate.
“Piracy is an issue that nobody has ever eradicated but we are doing awareness which is increasing. We are getting support from partners like World Intellectual Property Organization, GIZ and others,” she said.
The challenges are reflected in international rankings. The US Chamber International IP Index ranks Kenya third in Africa at 37 per cent, behind Morocco at 59 per cent and Ghana at 39 per cent. South Africa ranks fourth at 35 per cent, while Nigeria is sixth at 34 per cent.
Morocco has led the continent for several consecutive years, benefiting from relatively strong patent frameworks and membership of international IP treaties, although enforcement remains a challenge, particularly in relation to physical counterfeiting and online piracy.
Africa and the Middle East region as a whole records an average IP score of about 42–43 per cent, significantly below North America, at about 83 per cent, and Europe, at about 76 per cent.
Kenya is also seeking to overhaul its IP administration. The Kenya Intellectual Property Bill, 2026, proposes consolidating key IP functions currently handled by different institutions under a single authority.
The scale of the challenge is further illustrated by findings cited in a report by the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) following the 2nd International Symposium on Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement (ISIPPE-2), held in Kenya two years ago under the theme “Uniting Against Counterfeits for a Healthy and Safe Future.”
The report estimated that the global counterfeit market had grown from $509 billion in 2016 to $2 trillion in 2023. International trade in counterfeit goods was estimated at $464 billion in 2019, equivalent to 2.5 per cent of global trade.
Key tools for protecting Intellectual Property
In Kenya, the ACA estimated the illicit trade market at KSh826 billion in 2018. A multi-country study cited in the report found that 86 per cent of Kenyan participants had purchased counterfeit goods either knowingly or unknowingly.
Technology is increasingly being seen as a critical tool in strengthening IP protection and combating counterfeiting.
The ACA report highlights advanced authentication technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain and deep learning, as important tools for protecting intellectual property. Other emerging technologies cited include blockchain-based systems, AI-driven authentication and digital watermarking.
The Nairobi summit is therefore expected to bring together policymakers, innovators, creators, businesses and IP experts to explore how Africa can move beyond producing ideas and creative works to retaining ownership and capturing their economic value.
