Institute Board Chairman holds inaugural meeting with staff

Photo: Allan Kosgey (Seated 5th from Left), KIPI Board Chairman, in group photo with fellow Board Members and staff after the meeting

Allan Kosgey, the new Chairman, and other Board Members met the Institute's staff at its KIPI Centre offices, 17 Kabarsiran Avenue, Off Waiyaki Way. Kosgey, who was meeting the staff for the first time after his appointment as Chairman, said the Board will work with them to serve all Kenyans and not just the inventors, innovators and other players in the intellectual property (IP) sector.

“We, as the Board, work with you to sensitize and facilitate the general public, both those residing in urban and rural areas in Kenya, to protect their IP rights so that they can benefit from them without the risk of them being infringed on by unscrupulous people,” said Kosgey. Lee Kinyanjui, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), appointed Kosgey the Institute’s Board Chairman for a period of three years from January 17, 2025.

He said the Institute will particularly work with the youth, women and persons with disability in the IP sector. The Board Chairman said the youth are critical in coming up with, promoting and harnessing of IP rights because of their innovativeness and inventiveness.

“IP, if protected and commercialised, will provide solutions to most of the challenges we are facing such as unemployment, climate change, diseases etc. thereby enabling our youth to contribute to job and wealth creation in the country,” said Kosgey. While thanking the staff for their diligence to their work, he said the Board will continue looking into the staff welfare and equipment so that they can serve the Institute’s clients and other stakeholders in an effective and efficient manner.