Your logo is often the most valuable visual asset your business owns, yet the majority of Kenyan companies never legally protect it. If you have been wondering how to trademark a logo in Kenya, the good news is that the process is more affordable and accessible than most business owners assume. Registration is handled by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) under the Trade Marks Act, Cap 506. Official fees for a single class come to roughly KES 12,000, and a straightforward application can be filed from anywhere in the country. This guide breaks down every step, every fee and the common mistakes that sink applications, so you can protect your brand with confidence.
Why Trademarking Your Logo Matters in Kenya
A registered trademark gives you the exclusive legal right to use your logo for the goods or services you registered it under. Until you register, your protection is thin. Here is what registration actually buys you:
Legal exclusivity. Nobody else can register or commercially use a confusingly similar mark in your class of goods or services.
Enforcement power. You can formally demand that copycats stop using your mark, and you have solid legal grounds if the dispute escalates.
Business value. A registered mark is an asset. It can be licensed, franchised or sold, and it strengthens your position with investors and buyers.
Credibility in tenders and partnerships. Serious procurement teams and corporate partners notice when a brand is properly protected.
Protection online. From copycat Instagram pages to lookalike products on marketplaces, a registration certificate makes takedown requests far easier.
Many business owners assume that registering a business name at the Business Registration Service (BRS) protects their logo. It does not. Name registration lets you trade under that name, nothing more. Only a trademark stops others from using your logo or brand identity in the market.
Trademark, Business Name and Copyright: Know the Difference
These three protections are often confused, and the confusion is expensive:
Business name registration (BRS). Lets you legally operate under a name. It does not stop a competitor from using a similar logo, or building a lookalike brand around it.
Copyright. Your logo, as an artistic work, is automatically protected by copyright from the moment it is created. Copyright helps against direct copying of the artwork, but it does not give you exclusive commercial rights to the brand in your industry.
Trademark. Registered at KIPI, a trademark gives you exclusive rights to use the mark for specific goods or services across Kenya, and it is renewable indefinitely.
If your budget only allows one form of brand protection, the trademark is the one that matters commercially.
Step-by-Step: How to Trademark a Logo in Kenya Through KIPI
Step 1: Prepare your mark
Decide exactly what you are protecting. You can register a word mark (the name in plain text), a device mark (the logo symbol) or a combined mark (name plus logo together). If you can afford it, registering the word mark and the logo separately gives the broadest protection. If you must choose one, a combined mark covering your name and logo as customers actually see them is the common starting point. Prepare a clean, high resolution image of the logo, ideally 300 DPI in JPEG or PNG format.
Step 2: Conduct a preliminary search (Form TM27)
Before filing, search the KIPI register for identical or confusingly similar marks. You file Form TM27 and pay KES 3,000. The search is not a guarantee of registration, but it flags obvious conflicts before you spend more money. Skipping this step is the most common false economy in the whole process.
Step 3: Choose the right Nice class
Kenya uses the international Nice Classification, which sorts all goods and services into 45 classes. Classes 1 to 34 cover goods and classes 35 to 45 cover services. For example, clothing falls under class 25, advertising and business services under class 35, and restaurant services under class 43. Your protection only applies in the classes you register, so choose the class where you actually trade, plus any class you plan to expand into soon.
Step 4: File your application (Form TM2)
Complete Form TM2 with the applicant details, a representation of the logo, the Nice class and a clear specification of goods or services. The application fee is KES 4,000 for the first class and KES 3,000 for each additional class. You can scan and email the completed forms to trademark@kipi.go.ke, then pay by M-Pesa once KIPI confirms receipt and instructs you to pay. Straightforward cases can be filed without an advocate, although many businesses use an agent for peace of mind.
Step 5: KIPI examination
KIPI examines the application in two stages. Formality examination checks the paperwork and fees. Substantive examination checks whether the mark is distinctive, whether it conflicts with existing registrations and whether it complies with the Trade Marks Act. Descriptive or generic marks, for example a plain image of a coffee bean for a coffee brand, are frequently refused at this stage.
Step 6: Publication and the 60 day opposition window
If accepted, your mark is published in the Industrial Property Journal. The advertisement fee is KES 3,000. Third parties then have 60 days to oppose the registration. Most applications pass through this window without incident, but if an opposition is filed you will need to respond, ideally with professional help.
Step 7: Certificate of registration
If no opposition is filed, you pay the registration fee of KES 2,000 and KIPI issues your Certificate of Registration. The registration is backdated to your filing date, is valid for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely for further 10 year periods. Once registered, you can use the R symbol in a circle next to your logo.
KIPI Trademark Fees in 2026
Here is what the official fees look like for a local applicant registering in a single class:
Item | Form | Fee (KES) |
|---|---|---|
Preliminary search | TM27 | 3,000 |
Application, first class | TM2 | 4,000 |
Each additional class | TM2 | 3,000 |
Advertisement in the IP Journal | - | 3,000 |
Registration certificate | - | 2,000 |
Total, single class | About 12,000 |
A few notes for budgeting:
If you engage an IP agent or law firm, professional fees for a straightforward single class application typically range from KES 20,000 to KES 50,000 on top of official fees.
Foreign applicants pay fees in US dollars (USD 200 for the first class application) and must appoint a local agent using Form TM1.
Fees can change, so confirm current amounts on the official KIPI fee schedule before paying anything.
How Long Does Trademark Registration Take in Kenya?
Plan for patience. A smooth application commonly takes 8 to 18 months from filing to certificate, driven mostly by examination queues and the mandatory 60 day publication window. If KIPI raises objections or a third party opposes your mark, the process can stretch beyond 24 months. Two practical points soften the wait:
Your rights are backdated to the filing date once registered, so filing early matters far more than the processing time.
You can use the TM symbol while the application is pending to signal your claim, and switch to the registered symbol after the certificate is issued.
Common Mistakes That Get Logo Trademarks Rejected
Filing a generic or descriptive mark. A logo that merely describes the product, or leans on common symbols everyone in your industry uses, will struggle at examination.
Skipping the TM27 search. Discovering a conflicting mark after filing wastes both time and non-refundable fees.
Choosing the wrong class. Protection in class 25 does not help you if you actually sell services in class 35.
Submitting poor artwork. Blurry or low resolution logo images cause avoidable formality queries and delays.
Protecting only the logo and not the name. If customers know you by name, a device-only registration leaves your most valuable identifier exposed.
Missing renewals. A registration lapses if not renewed after 10 years, and opportunists watch for lapsed marks.
Start With a Logo That Is Worth Protecting
Trademark protection is only as valuable as the logo behind it. A generic template logo may not survive KIPI distinctiveness examination, and it certainly will not carry a growing brand. Before you spend on registration, make sure the mark itself is distinctive, original and professionally executed.
Mocky Digital designs original, distinctive logos for Kenyan businesses every week, with full copyright transfer so there is no question about ownership when you file at KIPI. Explore our professional logo design services in Kenya, compare current logo design packages and prices, or book a free project consultation to build a brand identity that is worth registering.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to trademark a logo in Kenya?
Official KIPI fees for a local applicant in a single class total roughly KES 12,000, made up of the TM27 search (KES 3,000), the TM2 application (KES 4,000), advertisement (KES 3,000) and registration (KES 2,000). If you use an agent or law firm, budget an extra KES 20,000 to 50,000 in professional fees.
Can I trademark a logo myself without a lawyer?
Yes. Kenyan residents can file directly with KIPI, and simple applications are manageable without professional help. An agent becomes valuable when your mark faces objections, when you are filing in multiple classes, or when an opposition is filed. Foreign applicants must use a local agent.
How long does trademark registration take in Kenya?
Most straightforward applications complete in 8 to 18 months. Objections or oppositions can push this beyond 24 months. Your rights are backdated to the filing date, so file as early as possible.
Does registering my business name protect my logo?
No. Business name registration at BRS only lets you trade under that name. It gives you no exclusive rights to your logo or brand identity. Only a registered trademark at KIPI stops others from using a confusingly similar mark in your industry.
Is my Kenyan trademark valid in other countries?
No, trademark rights are territorial. A KIPI registration covers Kenya only. If you trade across the region, consider filing through ARIPO for multiple African countries or the Madrid System for wider international coverage, ideally with guidance from an IP agent.
How long does a registered trademark last?
Ten years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely for further 10 year periods, as long as you pay the renewal fees and keep using the mark in trade.
