Trademark Registration in Kenya 2026: KIPI Cost, Requirements & Procedure

• Business setup
• Company registration
• Foreign investors

Kenya Trademark Registration Guide

Last updated: 26 April 2026 | Information source: Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), Trade Marks Act, KIPI fee schedule and Industrial Property Journal guidance checked on 26 April 2026.

Trademark registration in Kenya protects a business name, logo, slogan, device mark or other brand identifier in connection with specific goods or services. Registration is handled by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) and gives stronger legal protection than company or business name registration alone.

Trademark Registration Cost in Kenya

The cost of registering a trademark in Kenya depends on whether the applicant is local or foreign, the number of Nice classes, whether an agent is appointed, and whether there are objections, amendments or opposition proceedings. Official KIPI fees are separate from professional or agent fees.

Important: Fees can change. Confirm the latest KIPI fee schedule before filing or payment. Professional fees, opposition handling, amendment work, enforcement and multi-country strategy are separate.

Single-class official fee example

Trademark Search in Kenya: TM27 Preliminary Advice

A trademark search in Kenya should be done before filing the TM2 application. The TM27 preliminary advice/search helps identify identical or confusingly similar marks already on the KIPI register or pending before KIPI. It is not a final guarantee of registration, but it reduces avoidable objections, oppositions and wasted filing fees.

Trademark Registration Requirements in Kenya

A good filing starts with the correct owner, correct mark, correct Nice class and correct goods/services specification. Many trademark delays are caused by vague specifications, weak marks, poor logo images or incomplete authority documents.

Applicant details

• Full legal name of applicant: individual, company, partnership or organization.
• Nationality or country of incorporation.
• Physical address, postal address, email and telephone contacts.
• Address for service in Kenya, especially for foreign applicants.
• Identification or incorporation documents where required for due diligence and filing support.

Trademark details

• Word mark, logo, slogan, device mark or combined mark to be protected.
• Clear logo/device representation if filing a logo or stylized mark.
• Translation or transliteration where the mark contains non-English words or non-Latin characters.
• Colour claim, disclaimer or limitation details where relevant.

Goods and services

• Correct Nice class or classes.
• Clear goods/services specification matching actual or planned use.
• Separate class strategy where the brand covers both products and services.
• Expansion plan where the brand may enter related goods/services in the near future.

Forms and supporting documents

• TM27 for preliminary advice / search.
• TM2 for application to register the trademark.
• TM1 for appointment of agent, where applicable.
• Applicant ID, certificate of incorporation or company registration documents where needed.
• Power of attorney, board authority or signed authority letter where applicable.
• Official fee payment proof.

How to Register a Trademark in Kenya

The practical registration workflow is search, filing, examination, publication, opposition clearance and registration. The process should be planned around the mark, the class, the business use and the risk of similarity with existing marks.

1. Identify the mark. Decide whether you are protecting a word mark, logo, slogan, device mark or combined mark.
2. Choose the correct Nice class. Match the trademark to the goods or services actually offered by the business.
3. Conduct a TM27 search. Check whether there are identical or confusingly similar marks before filing.
4. Assess registrability. Avoid purely descriptive, generic, misleading or confusingly similar marks.
5. Prepare TM2. Complete the application with applicant details, mark representation, class and specification.
6. Appoint an agent where applicable. Foreign applicants commonly use a Kenyan agent and address for service.
7. File with KIPI and pay the application fee. Submit the application and keep filing records.
8. Respond to examination queries. KIPI may raise formal or substantive objections.
9. Proceed to publication. If accepted, the mark is advertised in the Industrial Property Journal.
10. Manage the 60-day opposition period. If opposed, respond through the proper opposition procedure.
11. Pay registration fee and obtain certificate. If unopposed or successfully defended, the mark proceeds to registration.
12. Monitor and renew. Track renewal deadlines and enforce the mark where necessary.

Trademark Registration Timeline in Kenya

A practical planning range for trademark registration in Kenya is usually 10 to 16 months for straightforward matters. Objections, opposition proceedings, publication timing, multiple classes and delayed responses can extend the process beyond that range.

Publication and 60-Day Opposition Period

After KIPI accepts a trademark application, the mark is advertised in the Industrial Property Journal. Third parties who believe they have grounds to object may file a notice of opposition within 60 days from publication. Oppositions may be based on earlier rights, confusing similarity, descriptiveness, bad faith or other legal grounds depending on the facts.

What happens if your trademark is opposed?

• Review the opponent’s earlier rights and legal basis.
• File a counter-statement within the required process and timeline.
• Assess settlement, consent, coexistence or amendment options where commercially sensible.
• Prepare evidence, legal submissions and hearing strategy if the dispute proceeds.

Trademark Validity and Renewal in Kenya

A registered trademark in Kenya is valid for 10 years and can be renewed for further 10-year periods. Renewal is made using the prescribed renewal form and by paying the applicable renewal fee. Businesses should diarize renewal deadlines early because missed renewals can lead to removal from the register and restoration costs.

Trademark Registration for Foreign Companies in Kenya

Foreign individuals and foreign companies can register trademarks in Kenya through KIPI. In practice, foreign applicants commonly appoint a local trademark agent and maintain an address for service in Kenya so that KIPI correspondence, examination queries, publication issues, opposition notices and renewal reminders are properly managed.

Foreign fee rates apply where the payer, or the party on whose behalf the fee is paid, does not reside in Kenya and does not have a principal place of business in Kenya. Foreign applicants should budget for official KIPI fees, local agent/professional fees, class strategy, document review and possible objection or opposition work.

Local filing vs Madrid System

Trademark Registration vs Company or Business Name Registration

Company registration and trademark registration serve different purposes. A company name registered through the Companies Registry does not automatically give exclusive brand rights under trademark law. A trademark protects the brand identifier in relation to specific goods or services.

Common Reasons for Refusal, Delay or Weak Protection

• Using a descriptive or generic brand name that lacks distinctiveness.
• Filing without a proper TM27 search.
• Selecting the wrong Nice class or using vague goods/services wording.
• Filing only the logo when the word mark also needs protection.
• Using a poor-quality logo representation.
• Missing TM1 or authority documents where an agent is used.
• Failing to respond quickly to KIPI examination queries.
• Ignoring publication and opposition monitoring.
• Forgetting renewal deadlines after registration.

Trademark Enforcement and Infringement in Kenya

Registration strengthens enforcement because it gives clearer evidence of ownership, registration scope and priority. If another party copies or uses a confusingly similar brand, enforcement options may include a cease-and-desist letter, negotiation, takedown requests, opposition to later applications, civil action, injunctions and anti-counterfeit coordination where physical goods are involved.

Evidence to collect before enforcement

• Trademark certificate and filing details.
• Photos, screenshots, product samples or marketplace links showing infringement.
• Dates of first discovery and continuing use.
• Proof of customer confusion, distribution overlap or reputational harm where available.
• Business records showing your prior use and goodwill in Kenya.

How BIEA Helps With Trademark Registration

Business & Immigration East Africa assists local and foreign businesses with Kenya trademark searches, class strategy, TM2 filing support, KIPI correspondence, opposition monitoring, renewals, assignments and brand protection planning.

FAQs: Trademark Registration in Kenya

How much does trademark registration cost in Kenya?

For a local single-class application, key official fee checkpoints commonly include KES 3,000 for TM27 search, KES 4,000 for TM2 application, KES 3,000 for advertisement and KES 2,000 for registration. For a foreign single-class application, the equivalent checkpoints are USD 150, USD 200, USD 60 and USD 150 respectively. Agent and professional fees are separate.

What is the KIPI fee for a TM2 trademark application?

The KIPI fee schedule lists TM2 application fees as KES 4,000 for the first class and KES 3,000 for each subsequent class for local applicants, and USD 200 for the first class and USD 150 for each subsequent class for foreign applicants.

What is the cost of a trademark search in Kenya?

KIPI’s TM27 preliminary advice/search fee is listed as KES 3,000 for the first class and KES 2,000 for each subsequent class for local applicants, and USD 150 for the first class and USD 100 for each subsequent class for foreign applicants.

What documents are required to register a trademark in Kenya?

You need applicant details, a clear representation of the mark, Nice class and goods/services specification, TM2 application details, TM1 or authority document where an agent is used, and official fee payment proof. A TM27 search is strongly recommended before filing.

How long does trademark registration take in Kenya?

A practical planning range is about 10 to 16 months for straightforward filings. Objections, opposition, publication delays and late responses can extend the timeline.

What is the 60-day opposition period?

After acceptance, the mark is published in the Industrial Property Journal. Third parties may oppose registration within 60 days from the date of publication.

Can a foreign company register a trademark in Kenya?

Yes. Foreign companies can register trademarks in Kenya and commonly appoint a Kenyan agent with an address for service. Foreign official fee rates apply where the applicant or payer does not reside or have a principal place of business in Kenya.

Can I register both a name and a logo?

Yes. A word mark and a logo/device mark may be filed separately or strategically depending on the brand protection required. In many cases, a word mark gives broader protection for the brand name while the logo protects the visual presentation.

Is company registration the same as trademark registration?

No. Company registration creates a legal entity or reserves a business name. Trademark registration protects a brand identifier for specific goods or services and is handled by KIPI.

How long does a trademark last in Kenya?

A registered trademark is valid for 10 years and can be renewed for further 10-year periods.

What happens if KIPI objects to my trademark?

You may need to respond with legal arguments, amend the specification, enter disclaimers, provide clarification or consider a different brand strategy depending on the objection.

Can I enforce an unregistered trademark?

Unregistered rights may sometimes be enforced through passing-off where there is evidence of goodwill and misrepresentation, but registration usually gives a clearer and stronger enforcement position.

Official Sources

Trademark procedures, fees and forms can change. Confirm the latest KIPI guidance and fee schedule before filing or payment.

• KIPI — Trade Mark Fees: Local and Foreign
• KIPI — Patent and Trademark Forms
• Trade Marks Act, Cap 506
• KIPI Industrial Property Journal — March 2026