A law enforcement operation took place in Kenya in mid-May 2026, targeting at least 84 streaming video Web sites that had been suspected of copyright infringement.
According a social media post by Dennis Itumbi, a Kenyan media strategies and Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Coordination, it was part of a pilot enforcement phase of Kenya’s recently-proposed Copyright and Related Rights bill.
According to reporting by Kenyanvibe, discussions are also underway with major international media companies and streaming platforms as the government develops a broader anti-piracy framework.
Existing situation
Kenya’s Ministry of ICT identified 2.9 million visits every day. These included Goojara, FTMovies 123movies, Streammix.sh and many others. Goojara alone was getting nearly 20 million visits per month. “Some of the sites would break your heart,” said Mr. Itumbi.
Kenya’s Communications Authority found that less than 15 percent of MultiChoice’s GOtv’s registered users had active accounts, which implied that the non-users owned the account’s hardware but had moved to accessing pirate sites due to affordability.
Copyright bill
In response, the Republic of Kenya released a draft of its Copyright and Related Rights Bill, 2026 for public comment in March 2026. It proposed to compel Internet service providers to block infringing Web sites and applications within 72 hours of reporting by a rights-holder.
“We agreed on a road map to reach out to major platforms including a meeting with French media giant Canal, who bought DSTV,” sad Mr. Itumbi.
What the bill says
The draft bill carries well-accepted definitions of infringement, and of situations that constitute infringement; applying them to sale, copying, reprosuction and rentals of copyrighted musical, literary, dramatic, or artistic work; by electronic or physical means. Also, infringement may occur through unlicensed transformation of a work from 2D to 3D.
Infringement also occurs with the removal or alteration of technological protections by a person knowing or having reason to believe that electronic rights management information has been removed or altered without authority.
This extends to (the) “manufacture, import, distribut(ion), … sale, or possess(ion) for commercial purposes any device, product, component, or means that:
- Is promoted, advertised, or marketed for the purpose of circumventing a technological protection measure;
- Has only a limited commercially significant purpose other than circumvention;
- Os primarily designed, produced, or adapted to circumvent a technological protection measure or to enable or assist the reception of an encrypted programme by those not entitled to receive it
Reliefs available to the rights holder include damages, injunctions, and accounts of profits. Depending on the nature of the offender, damages can range from KES200,000 (equivalent to about US$1,540) to KES 1.5M (US$11,500).
Why it matters
Until recently, it had taken years between a copyright owner’s online infringement claim. For example, Africa Business Communities had reported that in 2019, MultiChoice Kenya sought a court order for Safaricom and Jamii Telecom to block 141 websites illegally streaming sports content. But the High Court didn’t issue the order until 2022. The piracy ecosystem had by then had evolved their techniques.
But local observers say that the anti-piracy effort is insufficient; that distribution issues, funding and audience access demand more attention as well.
Further reading
Keny moves to block piracy sites as creatives demand long-term solution. Article. May 20, 2026. by Keya Frankline. Kenyanvibe.
Kenya launches major crackdown on 84 movie piracy sites. Article. May 16, 2026. by Denis Mwangi. Pulse (Kenya)
Copyright and Related Rights Bill, 2026. Draft Bill (Legislative Proposal). Kenya Copyright Board. Republic of Kenya
Kenya moves to force ISPs to block pirate sites within 72 hours. Article. March 19, 2026. by Nixon Kanali. Africa Business Communities
