Kenya’s leading research firm, Mwelekeo Insights, has once again moved Kenyans with its latest discussion on Intellectual Property (IP).
Through a YouTube episode aired on Friday, November 14, 2025, the firm, using Mwelekeo TV host Fridah Mong’are and legal expert Mwangi Mungai, guided viewers through the laws behind patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
In the episode, Mwelekeo Insights noted that many young people across the country are developing creative projects and digital ideas that require stronger protection.
Mwelekeo Insights data analyst Fridah Mong’are. Photo: Mwelekeo TV Source: YouTube
However, the firm warned that a large share of these innovators still operate without understanding their legal rights.
During the episode, Mong’are led the conversation by asking what IP covers and why it matters. Mungai explained that IP protects creativity in all forms, including songs, logos, mobile applications, written material, and inventions.
He shared a real example of a young Kenyan who created betting software valued at Ksh20M but lost ownership after failing to patent it.
Consequently, Mungai urged innovators to secure their work early before presenting it to investors.
Advocate Mwangi Mungai. Photo: Mwelekeo TV Source: YouTube
He added that IP protection is affordable, with trademarks costing between KSh5–10K. Additionally, many registrations can be completed online without hiring a lawyer.
Therefore, he advised creators to document their work, use NDAs, and register with the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) or the Kenya Copyright Board (Kobo).
Mungai noted that proper protection increases investor confidence and improves competitiveness in both local and global markets. However, he also pointed out gaps in Kenya’s IP enforcement, especially in copyright protection and music royalties.
That notwithstanding, Mwelekeo Insights has in the past positioned itself as the leading research firm in Kenya, after conducting studies and public opinion poll on matters raging from social, economic and politics.
Mwelekeo Insights finding on bride price being abolished completely. Photo: Mwelekeo Insights Source: mwelekeo.com
In a July 2025 study, the firm found that 53 percent of men support the bride-price tradition, while 47 percent oppose it. Notably, 65 percent of men said the bride-price cost should be shared, and 83 percent supported gradual payment.
In another major survey released in February 2025, the firm reported that only 29 percent of women under 30 in Nairobi consider marriage a top priority.
However, 53 percent said marriage is not important to them, and 67 percent of career women also deprioritised it, citing independence and career ambitions.
By connecting these studies to its latest IP awareness efforts, Mwelekeo Insights demonstrated its role as a research firm that not only gathers data but also interprets how evolving social attitudes influence Kenya’s creative and economic future.
