Kenya is set to leverage geographic indications (GI) to enhance the global value of its key agricultural exports, including tea, coffee, and cut flowers, by introducing new legislation that empowers counties.

• The draft Geographical Indications (GI) Bill, 2026 aims to protect the origin-based branding of Kenyan products, potentially unlocking billions of shillings lost in global trade.
• Counties will play a pivotal role in mobilizing producers, verifying geographic boundaries, and supporting GI applications, effectively becoming custodians of local brands.
• The proposed law extends protection to unregistered names and seeks to prevent the misuse and misappropriation of Kenyan product names, with penalties including fines of up to Sh5 million or jail terms of at least two years for offenders.