Gov't starts program for protection of indigenous knowledge and intellectual assets

Under the National Products Industry (NPI) program, the National government seeks to support counties to establish, promote, value add and advance protection, promotion of Kenya’s indigenous cultural know-how and assets.

Already, the government has established the indigenous Knowledge Innovation Bank, a key data repository for counties' key assets, including traditional foods, local cuisines and traditional medicine and local remedies.

Other key assets for counties under the Documentation and Digitisation Project that benefit the 13 counties also include indigenous technologies, heritage sites, cultural tourism, performing Arts and Creative economy.

According to Gender, Culture and Arts Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo, the project will benefit Garissa, Kakamega, Jericho, Kilifi, Kisii, Makueni, Marsabit, Murang'a, Narok, Siaya, Tharaka Nithi, Turkana and Vihiga in the first phase.

Cheptumo said the project will cover all 47 counties, with 20 counties being considered in the second cohort, while 14 are set to benefit in the third cohort, all geared towards promoting heritage-based enterprises.

The CS said the efforts aim to support cottage industries and the promotion of indigenous products value chains in the National and County governments, which will be funded by the County Aggregation Industrial Parks.

She said the move is under the mandate of the revised Cultural Enterprises Act (2018), which tasks the government with promoting all forms of national and cultural expressions.

The CS, who was speaking in Naivasha during the Governors Consultative Roundtable, said the 13 counties are set to showcase their cultural products and intellectual assets during the first international Investment Conference and Trade Fair to be held in Murang'a between April 21 - 23 this year.

She said the forum will provide local communities, indigenous Knowledge assets owners, entrepreneurs, local and international investors and policy makers a platform to share key knowledge.

This initiative will reverse the trend in which tens of Kenyans have turned to India and other international countries to benefit from their indigenous knowledge, especially within their medicinal sectors.

On his part, Garissa Governor Nathif Njama noted that the conference noting that it will provide counties with a platform to promote their heritage-based enterprises for the benefit of their communities.

Njama said counties hold huge potential, untapped rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, which, when commercialised, will unlock more economic opportunities to locals.

The Governor who represented the Council of Governors in the forum said the initiative will provide access to benefit sharing for local communities to safeguard their cultural heritage and their intellectual assets.

He said the platform will ensure grassroots Innovations such as natural products, crafts performances, and traditional foods are protected, processed, branded and certified for the export market for the benefit of communities.

The Governor tasked the project to onboard youth and women who forms 60 percent of actors in the cultural and natural product value chain.

Evans Talasha, the Board chair of the National Medium of Kenya said Kenya would unlock more than sh. 230 Billion if necessary investment was tapped in indigenous Knowledge.

Talasha said by tapping and unlocking the key cultural heritage knowledge, Kenya would reverse the increased importation of natural based products to meet local demand such as medicines.