Request a patent or technology search from KIPI
Kenya Industrial Property Institute · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Fill Form IP 43 describing the invention or technology you want searched, pay KSh 2,000 on KIPI's eCitizen portal, then hand in the form and receipt to KIPI. To browse patent databases yourself, use a Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC).
- Fee
- KSh 2,000Search request (Form IP 43)
- Where
- Pay on KIPI's eCitizen portal (kipi.ecitizen.go.ke), then submit at KIPI Centre, 17 Kabarsiran Avenue, off Waiyaki Way, Lavington, Nairobi
What you need
- Filled Form IP 43 (request for search for an industrial property right)
- A detailed description of what you want searched, with drawings if any, on a separate sheet
- The payment receipt downloaded from eCitizen
Steps
- Download Form IP 43 from KIPI's forms page. Give a short description on the form and attach a detailed one, with drawings if you have them.
- On KIPI's eCitizen portal, generate an invoice for the search and pay the KSh 2,000.
- Submit the form, your description and the eCitizen receipt to KIPI.
Watch out
- Checking a brand name or logo? That's a trademark search, on Form TM27 for KSh 3,000, not a patent search.
- Technology and Innovation Support Centres at several universities, polytechnics and at KIPI give access to patent and technical databases if you'd like to search yourself first.
Who can apply
- Anyone can ask. If you don't live in Kenya and have no main place of business here, you pay the foreign fee (US$100) instead.
Official sources (7)
- Industrial Property Regulations, 2002 (Rev. 2016), regulation 70 kipi.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Patent / Industrial Designs / Utility Models Fees Schedule (First Schedule) kipi.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Form IP 43: Request for search for an industrial property right kipi.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Public Notice on Payment for KIPI Services on e-Citizen Platform (20 May 2024) kipi.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Technology and Innovation Support Centres (TISC) kipi.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- FAQs kipi.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Patent Agents (page footer: contact info) kipi.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026