On 2 August 2021, Kenya and the US signed the “Agreement between the Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Kenya on the Employment of Dependents of Official Employees” to allow for the issuance of work permits to the dependents of Kenyan and US diplomatic staff by Kenya and the US.
While Kenya’s immigration laws allow the presence, employment, and status of foreigners in Kenya, their provisions do not apply to diplomats, consuls, diplomatic and consular staff, mission staff, or their dependents. Provisions relating to the status of such persons are in the Kenyan Privileges and Immunities Act.
Additionally, both Kenyan immigration laws and diplomatic laws are silent on the eligibility of the dependents of this class of foreigners (that is, diplomats, consuls, diplomatic and consular staff, and mission staff) for employment in the receiving state.
“Dependents of the official employees of the government of the Republic of Kenya assigned to official duty in the territory of the United States of America and dependents of the official employees of the government of the United States of America assigned to official duty in the territory of the Republic of Kenya are authorised to be employed in the territory of the receiving state after obtaining the appropriate authorisation in accordance with the provisions of this agreement.”
Under the Agreement, individuals who are immediate family members of Kenyan and US diplomatic staff assigned to diplomatic missions in Kenya and the US can take up employment in the receiving country.
In Kenya, the authorization required is to be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after a request is made through the US Embassy. Once the authorization has been obtained, the dependent can approach the Immigration Department for a work permit.
Are you a Start-up Founder or thinking of starting a business with friends or others? Here is a Checklist of legal documents that are critical to you and your business.
Question: What is the most common mistake that start-up founders make during early growth?
Answer: Not establishing a strong legal structure from the start.
While it’s tempting to step into the market and change the world, it is crucial that founders of a start-up pause and cover their legal bases to avoid needless and preventable legal battles. Or even losing their business altogether.
Below, we have highlighted twelve (12) legal documents that founders need to put in place to safeguard their businesses from sly co-founders or investors.
1. Term Sheets (aka “Heads of Terms” or “Heads of Agreement”)
A Term Sheet is a preliminary document that defines the type of investment that the investor wishes to engage in, the different classes of shares and their benefits, proposed capitalisation, and key legal and financial terms. It can be referred to as your starting gear.
Ideally, the execution of the term sheet by a potential investor is an indication that the investor is serious about investing in your company. It conveys the interest of the investor to invest in your company and your willingness to accept their investment.
However, a Term Sheet is not a legally binding document in itself as the investor can walk away from the intention to invest unless a Share Subscription Agreement (or an Investment Agreement) and subsequently, a Shareholders Agreement, are signed.
The Term Sheet is essentially a roadmap that guides an investor in determining whether or not to make an investment in the business.
2. Share Subscription Agreement
The simplest explanation for what a Share Subscription Agreement is this: it is a promise by a potential investor (referred to as “subscriber”), to invests in a company, in an agreed number of instalments, in return for the company giving a certain number of shares at a certain price to the subscriber, such that the investor becomes a shareholder.
The Share Subscription Agreement will set out the number of shares to be issued to the subscriber or shareholder, and the order and timing by which funds will be advanced by the subscriber or shareholder to the company.
3. Investment Agreement
Sometimes an investor may require that a legal document referred to as an Investment Agreement be signed in place of the Share Subscription Agreement.
So, what is an Investment Agreement, one would ask?
An Investment Agreement is a contract to formalize a transaction between an investor and a company whereby the investor invests in the company by giving funds to the company either in form of a loan (debt) or getting shares equivalent to his funds (equity) or both debt and equity. Where the investor gets shares in the company, he/she acquires an ownership interest in a company. This document sets out the terms and conditions of the investment transaction.
In simple terms, an Investment Agreement allows founders and their company to obtain capital from investors, and in exchange for the capital received, they give away a percentage of the ownership of the company to the investor.
4. Shareholders Agreement
A Shareholders Agreement is a critical document for any start-up to have. It is one of the key governance documents for the company. It is a private and confidential document that defines the relationship between the company, the founder-shareholders themselves and between the founders and the investors when investors come in to invest in the company.
It sets out the rights and duties of the shareholders in the company. It also sets out the framework for decision making in the company. Lastly, it provides a mechanism for the division of dividends, for exits by the shareholders among other critical issues. Simply put, it contains information on who owns what shares in the business and what is required of them.
If there is one document that is an absolute requirement for founders to have in place even before investors come in, it is the Shareholders Agreement. Also, since the Shareholders Agreements affects what rights investors will have when they become shareholders of the company, investors will be interested in what is contained in them.
5. Founders Agreement
If your start-up has more than one founder, it is highly beneficial that the founders have a written and signed Founders Agreement in place to govern their business relationship. Ideally, this Founders Agreement should be signed even before the start-up is registered.
The Founders Agreement stipulates the rights, responsibilities, liabilities, and obligations of each founder. It also generally covers matters that may not be addressed by the start-up’s Memorandum and Articles of Association such as, the strategy of the business; funding of the business; the ownership structure; roles of the founders; contribution of each founder (whether money, skills, intellectual property, physical effort etc.); the transfer of ownership; decision making and dispute resolution; confidentiality; representations and warranties.
Intellectual property is broadly defined as something which is created, invented or designed as a result of one’s creativity, thus bestowing upon him or her trademark, copyright or patent rights that preclude others from using it without permission.
It is critical that from the founding phase of the start-up to the successful set up of its operations, the intellectual property rights of the business are secured and safeguarded.
The Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement facilitates the transfer of intellectual property rights that are critical to the start-up and are possessed by the founders, from them to the business. It transfers the ownership of intellectual property rights of an individual to the company (before one becomes a director, employee, or consultant in the company). The individual will no longer have any right to the intellectual property assigned.
On the other hand, a Licencing Agreement will allow crucial intellectual property rights to be licenced by the founders to the start-up.
It is important to note that these two agreements, discussed here allow founders to maintain ownership of their intellectual property rights while permitting the company to benefit from the rights.
It is also important that the founders register all their intellectual property (name of the business, name of the product or service, the software, the design of the website, design of the product etc.), be it as trademarks, copyright, patents or industrial design, with the relevant statutory bodies, as soon as possible to protect them.
Founders get asked to share important non-public information all the time by potential investors, potential customers, among others. Such information they may be asked may include disclosing information proving why or how their product or service is unique, trading data, growth plans, key hires among other commercially sensitive information. Such information might be needed by the investors to help them determine whether to invest in the company or not.
A Non-Disclosure Agreement (also known in common parlance by its acronym “NDA”) is a legal “Great Wall” used to protect the trade secrets and confidential information of a business from third parties.
Basically, a Confidentiality Agreement prevents a person who has been granted access to privileged or confidential information of the business from divulging it to others for a limited or unlimited period.
Every business has some information and trade secrets that give it a competitive advantage in the market, which information must be kept confidential.
An NDA will protect such vital information from being shared, used or disseminated to the detriment of the owner of the information.
The Time and Performance Share Option Agreement is used in two ways. One way is to reward an exemplary employee by giving them the right to buy shares in the company at a specified price. A company can use it as a motivational tool to motivate its employees especially at an early stage when it does not have enough money to pay them well but really needs their skills to grow.
Offering such early-stage employees share option rights will motivate, and also serve as compensation for accepting a lower salary or the risk of working for a start-up business. The employees can later cash in the shares with a huge premium when the company is acquired or listed with a high valuation.
The other way a Time and Performance Share Option Agreement can be used is where the founders want to onboard a new co-founder who is bringing in non-monetary capital (or contribution). Such non-monetary capital can be, their time, or specialised IT skills (for a tech or tech-reliant start-up), or great management skills, or intellectual property or whatever skills or talent that the current founders do not have and are deemed critical to the company.
The performance criteria that trigger the grant of the options could nonetheless vary depending on the company.
9. Convertible Note Agreement
A Convertible Note Agreement is a legal document used where an investor has given a short-term loan to a start-up which loan may be converted into shares of the company on a specified date and upon certain agreed conditions being met.
It is also known as “Convertible Note” or “Convertible Loan Note”.
Investment in a company via a Convertible Loan Note takes the form of a loan (short-term debt) to the company (at the onset) and later on the loan is converted into equity.
Convertible Notes can be secured (with the start-up assets such as shares, or current and future invoices or revenues, or intellectual property being collateral), or be unsecured.
10. Employment Agreement
Many start-ups are basically “fly by the seat of the pants” operations where the founders double up as founders, managers, accountants, salespersons etc. Many of them start life with perhaps one or two or three employees with the founders putting all of their focus on getting the start-up off the ground, on getting sales, or drumming publicity on their products and services.
As such, most early-stage start-ups do not have written employment contracts for their people. While this is understandable from a commercial point of view, in the eyes of the law, this is illegal. The founders should ensure that their employees have written contracts (even Fixed-Term Employment Agreement for short term employment which can be renewed or extended would suffice) to reduce the risk of getting into trouble with the labour laws.
The Employment Agreement will govern the relationship between the company and its employees and provide the terms of engagement of the employees and their deliverables. It will set out among others, the employment term, duties of the employee, salary and benefits available to the employee, working hours, the circumstances that will result in termination and any dispute resolution mechanisms available to the employer and the employee, and the job description, sick leave, maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
Three (3) critical reasons why a start-up should have in place Employment Agreements
Employment Agreements of a start-up must have:
(a) confidentiality clauses to stop the employee from taking the start-up’s confidential information and trade secrets to their next employee or their own business;
(b) restraint clauses to stop the employee from enticing other employees to join them in their new workplace – who might be a competitor of the start-up; or joining a competitor of the start-up, for one year; and
(c) intellectual-property clauses that will enable the employer to claim ownership of any intellectual property created by an employee while the employee is on the payroll of the company.
11. Commercial Agreements (with Agents, Contractors and Suppliers)
If the start-up intends to engage sales agents to generate leads and close sales on a commission basis, then it should have Agency Agreements drawn up and signed. In law and taxation, agents are different from employees in that they are independent persons who determine how, where and when they will work and are responsible for paying their own taxes and statutory contributions to NHIF and NSSF.
Where a start-up relies on a supplier or service provider to provide or supply products or services to it which are integral to its business, then it ought to protect itself. One way to do this is to draw up a Service Level Agreement (“SLA”) between the company and the supplier or service provider.
The SLA will specify the targets and performance standards agreed by the supplier or service provider and expected by the start-up. It will help to define and secure your business-supplier relationship, it will determine the major responsibilities of the parties. It will generally cover such issues as problem management, compensation, warranties and remedies, resolution of disputes and legal compliance.
The SLA, the Agency Agreement and the Consultancy Agreement will be extremely useful if legal proceedings ensue.
12. Agreements With Customers (Terms and Conditions, Terms of Use, Privacy Policy)
Every start-up needs a written contract between it and its customers. The written contract will take different forms depending on the industry that the start-up is operating. A tech-based or online start-up will have a “Terms and Conditions” or “Terms of Use” on its website or mobile app. Others will have a Letter of Engagement or plain old written contract among others. A Privacy Policy also falls under the category of contracts between businesses and customers.
What is of importance is that all start-ups, as well as established businesses, must have a document, written or digital, that will govern their relationship with their customers or end-users.
In the case of “Terms and Conditions” or “Terms of Use,” the customers or users will have to agree or accept or decline to accept the terms and conditions before accessing the website or the service. The “Terms and Conditions” will inform the customers or the users of their rights and duties and sets conditions to use the website or the service.
A Privacy Policy (usually placed on a company’s website) on the other hand will tell the customer or the user how the company will collect and use their personal information. It establishes the guidelines the company must follow when collecting and using information from users.
The founders are advised that the information provided by customers is also subject to Data Protection laws and start-ups have to be careful and adhere to the provisions under the Data Protection Act of Kenya when handling customers’ information.
What next?
Quite a number of these documents are complex, and a founder will benefit immensely from seeking specialised legal advice before committing themselves to sign the documents.
You can contact vonyango@otadvocates.co.ke or etarus@otadvocates.co.ke for legal advice on any of the above and any legal issues concerning your business, whether a start-up or an established company.
Employers Redundancy Obligations During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Managing the Process
The COVID-19 global pandemic has seen many businesses locally and globally being forced to make difficult decisions, especially in relation to whether retain all, some or none of the employees. Due to closures of businesses up and down the supply chain, the domino effect has resulted in many employers, both large and small, having to get creative to ensure they can survive and emerge from the pandemic.
Some options that employers have been implementing include:
exercising any contractual right to ‘lay-off’ staff on a temporary basis or reduce their hours;
where appropriate, terminating the contracts of agents and contractors first;
where there is no contractual right, asking employees to consent to reduce their hours and/or pay on a temporary basis, or considering ways to unilaterally make such changes;
providing employees with alternative duties; or
seeing whether any employees want to take unpaid leave or go on a sabbatical.
For employers who have been unable to initiate the above measures or for those who have, but it has not been helpful, the last resort has been to declare employees redundant.
This article provides a useful summary of the key considerations for employers who are contemplating a labour force reduction to manage costs amidst a contracting economy that’s been gutted by COVID-19.
From the onset, it is important to note that the methods and procedure of lawful termination of Employment are outlined in the Employment Act, No. 11 of 2007 (hereinafter referred to as “Employment Act”). This means that termination of employment is a statutory process. The methods and procedure of termination of employment prescribed by the Employment Act supersedes stipulations under any contract of employment except provided otherwise by the Employment Act. Further, it is important to note that at all material times, termination of employment can be initiated either by the employer or the employee.
Whilst there are several ways in which termination of employment can be effected, this article will focus only on termination by redundancy.
Redundancy Process in Kenya
It is lawful and allowed in Kenya for an employer to terminate an employee’s employment on account of redundancy.
Section 2 of the Employment Act provides a statutory definition of the term “redundancy” which means “the loss of employment, occupation, job or career by involuntary means through no fault of an employee, involving termination of employment at the initiative of the employer, where the services of an employee are superfluous and the practices commonly known as ‘abolition of office’, ‘job or occupation’ and ‘loss of employment’”.
Redundancy is provided for under Section 40 of the Employment Act. Where an employer seeks to declare employees redundant, he/she must adhere strictly to the conditions set out under Section 40(1) of the Employment Act. These are:
where the employee is a member of a trade union, the employer must notify:
the union; and
the labour officer in charge of the area where the employee is employed,
of the reasons for, and the extent of, the intended redundancy 30 days before the date of the intended date of termination on account of redundancy;
where an employee is not a member of a trade union, the employer notifies:
the employee personally in writing; and
the labour officer;
the employer has, in the selection of employees to be declared redundant had due regard to seniority in time (‘Last In, First Out’ – LIFO principle) and to the skill, ability and reliability of each employee of the particular class of employees affected by the redundancy;
where there is in existence a collective agreement between an employer and a trade union setting out terminal benefits payable upon redundancy, the employer has not placed the employee at a disadvantage for being or not being a member of the trade union;
the employer has where leave is due to an employee who is declared redundant, paid off the accrued leave in cash;
the employer has paid an employee declared redundant not less than one month’s notice or one month’s wages in lieu of notice; and
the employer has paid to an employee declared redundant severance pay at the rate of not less than fifteen (15) days’ pay for each completed year of service.
In the case of Hesbon Ngaruiya Waigi – v – Equitorial Commercial Bank Limited (2013) eKLR the court referring to conditions outlined under Section 40 held:
“These conditions outlined in the law are mandatory and not left to the choice of the employer. Redundancies affect workers livelihoods and where this must be done by an employer must put into consideration the provisions of the law.”
Where an employer fails, neglects, and/or ignores to strictly follow and/or adhere to the conditions laid down in Section 40 in declaring an employee redundant then such termination of employment will be considered to be unfair termination within the meaning of Section 45 of the Employment Act.
This is buttressed by the case of Francis Maina Kamau – v – Lee Construction (2014) eKLR where the court held that:
“Where an employer declares a redundancy the conditions set out in Section 40 of the Employment Act must be observed and where the employer fails to do so, the termination becomes unfair termination within the meaning of Section 45 of the Employment Act.”
Indeed, in the case of Kenya Airways Limited – v – Aviation & Allied Workers Union Kenya & 3 others [2014] eKLR, the Court of Appeal held that:
“…where there is a redundancy the employer must ensure two fundamental requires of substantive justification for the same and procedural fairness. Section 40(1) of the Act gives the requirements and conditions precedent to a redundancy. The employer must justify the redundancy. Notice of the intended redundancy should be issued to the employees likely to be affected and another notice issued to the labour officer. The notices under section 40(1) of the Act are mandatory. Both the notices themselves and their duration of 30 days under this provision are mandatory. Section 40(1) of our Employment Act does not expressly state the purpose of the notice. Although it also does not expressly provide for consultation between the employer and the employees or their trade unions before the final decision on redundancy is made, on my part I find the requirement of consultation provided for in our law and implicit in the Employment Act itself.”
Consultations should be undertaken and are meant to allow the employer and the employees to discuss and negotiate a way out of the intended redundancy, if possible, or the best way of implementing it if it is unavoidable as stated by the Court of Appeal in the case of Barclays Bank of Kenya Ltd & Another vs GM & 20 others, (Civil Appeal No. 296 of 2016). The consultations must be real and meaningful and not a charade.
In the unfortunate event that there is no solution in sight, meaning that redundancy is inevitable, measures should be taken to ensure that as little hardship as possible is caused to the affected employees.
Conclusion
Most employers are facing major challenges in balancing the high operating costs, caused by escalating employee cost, among other overheads, which have risen disproportionately when compared to declining revenues.
Despite these unprecedented times, the courts are unlikely to take the view that the COVID-19 pandemic is an excuse to forgo the legal processes when making employees redundant. Employers must strictly comply with the substantive provisions as outlined in the Employment Act before deciding a role will be made redundant.
Update
When an employee is declared redundant, he/she is entitled to the following:
All leave days not taken should be paid for in lieu of the same;
One (1) month’s notice or one (1) month’s salary in lieu of notice;
Severance pay at the rate of not less than 15 days pay for each completed year of service (for instance if you have worked for that employer for 5 years before being declared redundant, you are entitled to 15 days x 5 years =75 days pay);
where the employee is not a member of a trade union, they should be notified simultaneously with the Labour Officer of the area;
where the employee is a member of a trade union, the employer should notify the union simultaneously with the Labour Officer noting in the information the reasons for the redundancy; and
where the union had signed a collective bargaining agreement with the employer, all benefits provided under the agreement should be provided.
If the employer had not been remitting the employee’s pension deductions to the relevant pension fund or NSSF and/or not remitting NHIF contributions, the employee can insist on his/her pension deductions being remitted to the relevant pension fund or NSSF and/or NHIF for the material period. If the employer refuses to do this, the employee is at liberty to sue the employer at the employment and labour relations court for settlement of pension deductions and/or NHIF contributions, plus interest.
It is important that redundancy exercises are properly documented and carried out correctly to avoid lengthy and potentially expensive employment claims down the line. We often advise clients on these processes and can assist with drafting scripts for use at consultation meetings, letters to employees and associated termination documents.
Should you have any questions regarding the redundancy process or any other employment matters, contact Victor of the OT Advocates at vonyango@otadvocates.co.ke
Film is a powerful vehicle for entertainment and education. It grants us the opportunity to reflect on the diverse cultures around us and opinions of society. Over the last two decades, the Film Industry in Kenya has experienced tremendous growth with increased production of content by both local and foreign film companies. Some of the famous films and documentaries produced in Kenya include: the legendary local television series, Vioja Mahakamani; the captivating wildlife documentary, Big Cat Diaries; the inspiring movie, The First Grader; and the relatable and humorous series, Njoro wa Uba among many others.
Chair and snack for watching movies in the studio
So, what are the legal requirements for filming in Kenya?
Filming in Kenya is governed by the Film and Stage Play Act, Cap. 222 of the laws of Kenya, (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”), which provides guidelines for the making and exhibition of films, licensing of film production companies and film agents. The Kenya Film Classification Board, a state corporation, established under Section 11 of the Act, is responsible for regulating the creation, broadcasting, possession, distribution and exhibition of films by:
examining every film and every poster submitted to it for purposes of classification;
imposing age restriction on viewership; and
giving consumer advice, having due regard to the protection of women and children against sexual exploitation or degradation in cinematograph films and on the internet,
as stipulated in Section 14 of the Act. It is also the body mandated to license film production companies and film agents in Kenya.
Obtaining a Film Licence:
A film license is an imperative prerequisite for one to film in Kenya.
Section 4(1) of the Film and Stage Plays Act stipulates that “..no film shall be made within Kenya for public exhibition or sale either within or outside Kenya except under and in accordance with the terms and conditions of a filming licence issued by the licensing officer..” It is therefore essential that prior to commencing any filming activities, one must have a valid film license.
A film license is issued by the licensing officer at the Kenya Film Classification Board upon a successful application. The application for a film license must be made in the prescribed form and accompanied by the following documents as stipulated in Section 5 of the Act:
a story synopsis;
a full description of the scenes;
the full text of the spoken parts of the entire film, if any
among other items.
If the film synopsis is in a language other than English, a translation in English must be provided.
Upon receipt of the application, the licensing officer may in his discretion in any particular case accept an application notwithstanding that it is not accompanied by such description and text if he has been given such other information as he requires for the determination of the application.
Pursuant to Section 6 of the Act, upon receipt of the application, the licensing officer may exercise his/her discretion, in issuing or refusing to issue a filming license. Alternatively, the licensing officer may provide the conditions to be met by the applicant for the issuance of the license and for the period of its subsistence.
The requirement for a film license, similarly, applies to foreign companies wishing to film in Kenya. Foreign companies are required to apply for the film license through a licensed local film agent or may apply to be registered as film agent then apply to be issued with the film licence.
In addition to the documents stipulated above, a foreign film company will be required to provide the following documents:
a list of all the foreign crew members and acting team; clearly outlining their roles in the production of the film;
a list of all the equipment that the company intends to bring into the country for purposes of filming; clearly indicating their serial numbers and the value for each equipment;
copies of the foreigners’ passports, accompanied with their passport size photographs;
the estimated budget to be spent in the country;
a filming schedule from the time of entry into the country to the conclusion of the filming process; and
a letter stating the company’s desire to film in the country,
among other things.
Prior to commencing filming activities in Kenya, it is crucial that all foreign crew members obtain Special Passes and/or Work Permits from the State Department of Immigration of Kenya.
Additionally, a nominal and non-refundable import charge is levied on the total quantity of imported film equipment per consignment, payable to Kenya Revenue Authority.
Also, anyone intending to use an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or a drone while filming in Kenya requires a permit to import the drone, and the drone to be registered by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (“KCAA”) in order to operate a drone lawfully.
Registration as a Filming Agent or Company:
Vintage film camera, tablet, clapper and filmstrip on a wooden table: cinema and entertainment concept
Film Agents in Kenya generally comprise of duly incorporated companies. A Film Agent must be a local private limited liability company (“LLC”) or a local limited liability partnership (“LLP”). The Film Agent will facilitate location scouting, transport, hotel reservation, film licenses, shipping of equipment among other things.
All the applicant needs to demonstrate is that it is a duly registered company and that its executives possess the relevant and necessary qualifications.
If the foreign filming company wishes to be registered as Film Agent because it wants more control or intends to shoot more films or television series, it is preferable for them to register or incorporate a local subsidiary of the foreign company, that is, a LLC or a LLP. Such local business entities have certain advantages such as tax transparency and lower tax rates, over foreign entities.
An application for registration as a Film Agent is also submitted to the licensing officer at the Kenya Film Classification Board and must be accompanied by the following documents:
a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the company;
Value Added Tax Certificate; and
the CVs and professional qualifications of the directors of the company.
OT Advocates provides specialist legal advice to companies and individuals on all aspects of filming in Kenya. If you would like to discuss anything in this article or any other film related matter, please speak to Rutto at etarus@otadvocates.co.ke
Do not get conned: Why due diligence is critical before buying land
Land is
a very valuable asset because of its finiteness. There is only so much land
that is available on this earth.
Humans
not only live on but also perform all economic activities on land. This coupled
with the fact the world population is ever increasing, land everywhere keeps on
appreciating in value consequently attracting an upsurge in demand.
Because
land is constantly appreciating in value, it is deemed an excellent investment
by many. Hence the reason why land transactions are fraught with fraud. Therefore, as a buyer you
need to know pitfalls to avoid and safeguards to take when purchasing land lest
you find yourself deep in endless court battles or having lost your hard-earned
money to swindlers or your million shillings investment being demolished
because it is built at the wrong place such as a riparian reserve.
The following
are 11 things that you need to do to avoid becoming a victim of land fraud:
Proposed use of the land
Land in
Kenya is categorized as agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, recreational,
riparian reserves, forest land, national parks and reserves, wildlife corridor,
gazetted historical sites, flight paths, among others. The categorization of
land is referred to as zoning. You should therefore enquire from both
the National and County Governments whether the land in question is available
for use, registered and suitable for the purpose for which you want to buy it.
You
should go to the relevant authorities if the land sits next to a major road or
highway, an airport, a river, a national park or reserve, forest, historical
site etc. to find out from the authority if the land is theirs or not.
Valuation
This is
important as it protects you from possible exploitation from the seller and/or
brokers. Valuation will provide an estimate of the market value of the land.
Engaging a reputable registered valuer will be prudent.
Meet the Seller in person
Before you pay for the
land, have a physical meeting with the seller. Whereas online or remote
transactions are growing popular and very convenient today, they are
susceptible to fraud by fraudsters who may take advantage of you.
Request them for copies of their National ID cards, and PIN Certificates. If the seller is a company, request for copies of their National ID cards, and PIN Certificates of the directors.
Ask neighbours questions about the seller or history of the land
Neighbours
of the land you are interested in, are better placed to provide you with
information regarding the real owner of the land, history of the land ownership
as well as whether there are disputes over the land. A neighbour may inform you
of family squabbles, boundary issues, how the land came about, whether it was a
settlement scheme, community land, other buyers (multiple owners), set aside
for public utilities such as sewerage plants, cemeteries and other very
valuable information.
Show the
neighbours the photos of the sellers or the directors as they appear on the
copies of their National ID cards, and ask them to confirm whether indeed the
persons whose photos are on the IDs are indeed the real owner of the land. If
the seller is not the real owner and had forged the ID of the owner by
replacing the real owner’s photo with the photo of the fraudster-seller, the
neighbour will identify the deception, for instance where the real owner is an
old lady or young lady and the photo on the ID shows a young woman or old lady
respectively.
Physical visit
Believe what you see and not what you hear or read online. Only pay after you have confirmed that the land meets your expectations, has a clean title, and is owned by the person purporting to sell it. You can be promised an elephant and be given a rat. You should also conduct a physical inspection of the boundaries.
If
possible, wait for the rains if you want to be sure of the drainage and soil
type. The case of the upmarket Green-Park Estate in Athi River which flooded in
March, 2018 after Stoni Athi River bursts its banks, should be a reminder of
the perils of purchasing and constructing on land that sits on flood prone
areas.
Survey
To
ascertain your boundary, get a licensed land surveyor to survey the land and
confirm the availability and integrity of the beacons and the boundaries. Request
the surveyor to obtain the land’s survey map from the Survey’s office and check
whether the land and its title number actually exists on the survey map. Survey
maps are not easy to forge unlike title deeds, searches and other documents.
Investigation of the title
Conduct a search at the relevant land registry. If you are buying land from a company, also conduct a search on the company’s directors and shareholders at the Companies’ Registry.
Why do a
search:
You will know the true owner of the land.
You will know who are the true directors of the company, if the seller is a company.
You will know if the land has an encumbrance (such as a bank charge, a caution, a caveat, a restriction).
You get compensation for a mistake that arises out of an official search.
You will know the exact size of the land as captured in the land records.
You will know the history of the land, whether it belongs ultimately to the National Government or the County Government or a governmental authority such as the Export Processing Zones (in case of Leases), the number of years remaining on the Lease, or it belongs to the seller (in case of Freehold land).
You will know the rent payable to the National Government, if there is any.
Check authenticity of documents
Cases of falsifed Wills, Letters of Administration of a deceased estate, and Letters of Allotment are rampant. Sale Agreements, Land Transfer documents, Title Deeds, Green Card and Share Certificates where the property was acquired through a land-buying company are known to be forged by cartels and con-artists. In case of agricultural lands in both urban and rural areas, the fraudsters have been known to forge Minutes of Land Control Boards (“LCB”), the Transfer Consent Letter from the LCB, and the Sub-division Consent Letter.
Things
to do:
Request the court registry to confirm the authenticity of the Letters of Administration or Letters of Probate (if the owner had died and the “family” is selling the land to you), the seal and stamp of the court and the judge’s signature.
Request to peruse the court file for the succession matter to check the records there.
Request the County Government to confirm the authenticity of the Letters of Allotment, and if possible ask for copies of the Minutes of the county meeting that approved the allotments.
If possible, check and confirm with the advocate whose name and address is on the documents, whose stamp appears on the documents to confirm whether he/she indeed prepared and witnessed the documents. Bona fide advocates can easily be traced using Law Society of Kenya’s search engine at: https://online.lsk.or.ke/
Visit the particular LCB offices and confirm the authenticity of these documents and the signature.
Is a few
hours of time more important than losing millions of your hard earned money
that took you years and sweat to raise?
Land ratesandland rent
Using
copies of the title deed you have been given by the seller, check the
outstanding land renton the land by logging in on your eCitizen account
and navigating on to the Ministry of Lands
section, or visiting Ardhi House in Nairobi if the land number cannot be found
on the platform or visit the local land registry where the land is located.
Check also with the relevant County Government the land rates outstanding. Land
rent is paid to the National Government for GLA (Government Lands Act) and RTA (Registered
Titles Act) lands while land rates is paid to the County Governments for all
lands.
Some
landowners do not pay the yearly land rent and land rates, thus accruing huge
penalties. If you do not check and demand that the owner to settle all the rent
and rates arrears on the land before selling to you, you will have a very hard
time getting them to pay after you have bought the land or have to settle them
yourself. Also, the arrears and penalties might stall the transaction for a
long time since land registries will not complete the transfer until the
amounts are settled and the seller provides Rent and Rates Clearance
Certificates from the National and County Governments.
Sale Agreement
Only
after you have gone through the preceding stepsand are satisfied that
you are dealing with a genuine owner, can you proceed to sign a sale contract. Ensure the Sale Agreement with the seller is
in writing, signed by both of you and witnessed. It is important that you engage
a lawyer to help you with due diligence, the land and company searches, the
preparation of the Sale Agreement and transfer of land.
Fence the land
Once you have signed the Sale Agreement and paid the
10% deposit while awaiting the completion of the registration of the transfer
of the land to your name by the land registry and issuance of a new title in
your name, fence it the land or truck building stone blocks and
sand.
Fencing
will do two critical things: (i) it will restrict encroachment; and (ii) it will
help unearth any cases of multiple buyers. If the seller is dishonest and had
sold the land to other persons, or is a swindler who is selling land that does
not belong to them, the other buyers or the real owner will be informed by
neighbours or their lookouts that a stranger is fencing their land and will
rush to find out what is going on.
This
way, you will discover the truth and instead of losing a 100% of your purchase
money, you may lose only the 10% deposit and your precious time, a better
outcome.
What you should avoid!
Buying land belonging to a deceased person before succession formalities have been completed.
Buying land near rivers, lakes, roads, forests, schools and other public bodies before you are sure about the boundaries.
Developing land before obtaining the necessary approvals from the County Government, NLC and relevant statutory authorities.
Purchasing leasehold land that has a few years remaining before the lease expires.
Paying booking fee or commitment fee.
Paying any amount even a deposit without signing a Sale Agreement. Agreements for sale of land are required by law to be in writing to be enforceable. Only pay the deposit after you and the seller have signed a Sale Agreement.
Paying deposits that exceed 10% of the purchase price of the land. Only pay 100% after the land has been transferred into your name and the title deed has been issued in your name by the land registry.
Parting
Shot
Land
transactions may look simple but are complex in their simplicity. There is more
to them than just buying and selling. You may know what to do but fail to know
how to do it. You can thus seek the services of an advocate with a vast
experience in conveyancing to help you navigate and sail through land transactions
successfully.
Why protecting your intellectual property rights to your Mobile App is so critical:
Story
time:
In February this year (2020), Blix, an app developer behind the
BlueMail email management app announced that it will sue Apple for allegedly
copying one of its app features. Blix also called out Apple for engaging in unfair
business tactics by allegedly stealing its anonymous email sign-in feature with
“Sign in with Apple”, then thereafter “suppressed” Blix’s iPhone app in search
results and finally kicked Blix app out of the MacOS App Store.
In
January 2012, Mocality, a Kenyan business database service that has since
folded up, complained that Google was using Mocality’s data to sell Google
services. Mocality also accused Google for allegedly making false claims about
Mocality’s business practices. Also in 2015, Waze, a popular GPS navigation app owned by Google, was accused of stealing
proprietary mapping information from a rival called PhantomAlert prior to Waze’s
acquisition by Google.
How
serious is the issue of theft of intellectual property rights in the tech
industry:
The
above are a mere drop in the ocean of suits, accusations and claims of theft of
intellectual property brought by small and large app developers against Apple, Google and Microsoft which own the biggest app
stores in the tech industry, other competitors and corporates. In Kenya, the
risk of your app being copied by a lazy developer who is on tight deadline or a
rival who wants to replicate the success of your app or steal your traffic or
users, is very high.
It is
estimated that the global mobile application market is expected to reach USD 407.31 billion in 2026. With the rapid advancement in technology, new
mobile applications are constantly being developed to provide mobile phone
users with various novel services.
It is
therefore essential that mobile application developers take proactive measures
to protect their intellectual property rights in the app.
What
exactly are intellectual
property rights:
Intellectual
property rights are legal
rights aimed at protecting the creations of a person’s mind
by granting exclusive
rights
over the use of their creation for a particular period of time. They consist of Copyright, Trademark, Patent and Industrial Designs.
The
intellectual property rights highlighted above may be engaged to provide
protection to the various facets of a mobile application. Below is a brief
overview of how a patent, copyright and trademark may be used to protect the
different components of a mobile application.
Patent:
A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention. The registration of
patents in Kenya is guided by the provisions of the Industrial Property Act,
No. 3 of 2001 Laws of Kenya; and Section 21 of the Act defines an invention “as a solution to a specific
problem in the field of technology and goes further to state that an invention
may be, or relate to, a product or process.”
A
developer may file an application to the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (“KIPI”)
to patent the process through which the mobile application stores data or
processes it to be used on a mobile phone; or patent a method embodied in an app.
Prior to
filing an application for a patent, the developer must ensure that the mobile
application meets the requirements for patentability as set out in Section 22
of the Act which are: the mobile application process must be new; it must
involve an inventive step which cannot be obviously deduced by a person with
ordinary skill the technical field; and the invention must be useful and not
merely theoretical.
Patent rights allow the patent holder to control who can use, make and sell the protected invention; and in return, the patent holder is required to disclose how the invention works in a way that a person skilled in that particular technical field can replicate the invention.
Copyright:
In order
to buffer his or her intellectual property rights, a developer may obtain copyright from the Kenya Copyright Board (“KECOBO”) to secure his or her rights to
the app itself,
including its original software code and content, that
is, the computer
programs that form the
basis for mobile application.
Copyright
may also be used to protect the screen displays generated by the mobile
application. It is important to note that this protection is limited to the
expression of the idea and not the idea itself.
However,
for the developer to be eligible for copyright protection, he or she must
demonstrate that
sufficient effort was expended
on
making the programme to
give it an original character; and that the programme has been written down or recorded.
Copyright
accrues automatically to the developer under the provisions of Section 22 of
the Act. However, it is essential that the same is registered so as to obtain
prima facie evidence of ownership in case someone else copies or replicates the
app or its appearance, or its source code exactly or almost exactly as it is.
Trademark:
Furthermore,
the developer may trademark the application’s: (i) name and (ii) graphical user
interfaces (“GUIs”) so as to distinguish them from competitors, and protect them from
being copied or passed off.
GUIs
are the point of contact between the device, whether static or mobile, and the
user, employing graphic elements such as icons, menus, text boxes, scroll bars
and animated features.
The mark
to be protected must be clearly defined and should be distinct from any other registered marks. It is
therefore essential that a developer conducts in depth research, both locally
and internationally, to ensure that the mark intended to be registered does not
infringe on another’s rights.
A
trademark is valid
for 10 years and may be renewed.
Trademarks
are registered by KIPI.
Industrial Design:
GUIs can also be protected by registering them as industrial designs by KIPI.
Disclaimer. The above information is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for legal advice. Please get in touch with OT Advocates or contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.
No one ever forgets how it felt when they bought their first car or when they finally bought their dream car. Unfortunately for a number of us, we were left with a bitter taste in our mouths, after realising that we had been conned by very cunning individuals.
Read on to know what do you need to prevent falling victim to vehicle fraudsters.
Seek a Trusted Mechanic’s Advice
Take a trusted mechanic with experience in that particular vehicle model to view, check and road-test the vehicle to confirm that it is mechanically sound, to help pinpoint any issues such as mechanical faults and to help you in the negotiation process. Tell the mechanic to take a mental note of the condition, the parts and accessories of the vehicle as they are on that day.
Crucial Searches to be Conducted
NTSA Search (TIMS Portal)
Conduct a search on the motor vehicle ownership and registration on NTSA TIMS’s portal here using the prospective vehicle’s Registration Number (what Kenyans call ‘number plate’). This will help determine:
who the registered owner of the vehicle is; the VIN number (or the chassis number); the engine number; vehicle type (that is, model, type (station wagon, saloon, lorry), colour, engine capacity etc.); and
whether there are other co-owners of the vehicle such as a bank, a micro-finance institution or other creditor such as a motor vehicle dealer.
Sometimes, there might be another co-owner or owner listed on the logbook such as:
a bank, a financial institution or a motor dealer, which would mean that there is a loan or a debt secured by the vehicle. Request the owner/seller of the vehicle to discharge the charge on the logbook by getting the bank, financial institution or motor dealer to write to NTSA stating that the loan or debt has been repaid (if it has) and to request the charge to be discharged/removed. The owner will then pay discharge fees, surrender their original logbook with the co-owners’ names; and NTSA will issue a new original logbook with the seller’s names only; or
a deceased person (legal term for ‘a person who has passed on’). In such a case, you should request the seller to present a copy of confirmed Letters of Administration or Grant of Probate issued by the courts to the NTSA office together with the original logbook, NTSA will then advise on the next steps and ultimately facilitate the transfer of the vehicle to the administrator/executor of the deceased’s estate who has been confirmed by the court and who in turn will transfer the vehicle to you or NTSA will transfer the vehicle directly to you and issue you with a new original logbook in your names.
IMPORTANT: Do not attempt to purchase a vehicle with a logbook showing another owner such as bank, financial institution, a motor dealer or a deceased person! It can be repossessed by the bank, financial institution or a motor dealer or the transfer challenged in court by dependant of the deceased person such as one of their children or spouse! You might end up like the gentleman below!
Collateral Registry Search (eCitizen Portal)
Conduct a search on the Collateral Registry (MPSR) under the Business Registration Service (a department of the Attorney General’s Office) on your account on the eCitizen Portal, by clicking on “Search Request” and select “Search Criteria” then “Grantor’s Identification” where you insert the owner’s/seller’s name and national ID/Passport number or “Motor Vehicle Chassis Number” where you insert the VIN Number of the vehicle. The Collateral Registry lists movable assets including motor vehicles which have been used as security to secure loans granted by individuals, banks, financial institutions such as microfinance institutions, saccos, credit institutions and motor dealers.
KEBS Search
Conduct a search on Kenya Bureau of Standards’ (“KEBS”) mileage verification portal here using the prospective vehicle’s Chassis Number (VIN Number) to determine whether there has been odometer tampering to reduce actual vehicle mileage. You can also send a text message to 20023 as follows:- CH#Chassis Number. Get the Chassis Number from the NTSA Search document you had already obtained.
KRA Customs Duty Search
Check online for a public notice published in the local dailies on Sunday, May 15, 2016 by Kenya Revenue Authority (“KRA”) and on KRA website for a public notice, which required owners of 124 vehicles (registration numbers listed) to present the vehicles and their importation documents to KRA for verification of payment of import duty; to confirm that the prospective vehicle’s registration number is not among the 124 registration numbers listed therein.
If possible, ask the seller whether they have all (or any) of these documents, QISJ (issued by KEBS), Import Declaration Form (“IDF”), F147 and Payment Slip, Export Certificate, Duty Entry Form and Payment Slip, CFS invoice, Receipt and Release order, and Bill of Lading; especially if they are the vehicle’s first owner or if the seller is a motor vehicle dealership.
Confirm whether the engine has ever been replaced by the seller, and if so, inquire whether there are importation documents such as IDF Forms for the engine, if it was imported; or sale receipts, if the engine was bought locally.
Before Meeting the Buyer
Obtain from a lawyer a Motor Vehicle Sale Agreement or search for a suitable one, online or from a legal portal such as LexisNexis, amend it and then print it.
Open an account with the NTSA TIMS portal and confirm that the owner too has an account on the NTSA TIMS portal. Get the owner’s bank details.
Carry the Motor Vehicle Sale Agreement,NTSA TIMS Vehicle Search and a Bankers Cheque drawn in favour of the owner with the agreed purchase amount.
IMPORTANT: Avoid transacting in cash when meeting the owner/seller. Always use Bankers’ Cheques! They are as good as cash but have the safety precaution of being traceable, easy and safe to carry and have to be banked. In the event that the seller insists on cash (we advise against this!), request them meet you at the banking hall of your bank and release the funds to them in the hall, not outside, and only AFTER concluding the transfer and being given the original logbook!
Before the meeting, ask the owner to come with the vehicle (if it is roadworthy) to the meeting place, if it is not, arrange for a flat-bed recovery truck to go to the premises where the vehicle is and load it up, that is, BEFORE parting with your Bankers’ Cheque. Remember the film “Now You See Me” or the “Pata Potea” street cons of downtown Nairobi? You can get conned in a blink of an eye. Being a little paranoid, always helps!
IMPORTANT: Avoid paying a seller and then collecting the vehicle later on, even if the seller is a friend. The vehicle might get involved in an accident, be stolen or damaged between the time of payment and collection. Pay only when you can see the vehicle and the keys!
Also before the meeting, ask the owner to carry their original as well as copies of their National ID or Passport and PIN Certificate. Request for the original logbook to be brought to the meeting. Do not forget to ask the owner to carry the QISJ, IDF, F147 and Payment Slip, Export Certificate, Duty Entry Form and Payment Slip, CFS invoice, Receipt and Release order, and Bill of Lading (if these apply, and are available); and where the engine has been replaced, to carry the IDF for imported engines, or sale receipts for locally purchased engines.
On the Transaction Day
IMPORTANT: Hold the meeting in a public place such as a law firm, shopping mall, restaurant, NTSA’s offices, a bank etc., where there are members of public and/or security officers about, as well as internet.
Have your trusted mechanic accompany you to the meeting as well as a trusted friend or relative for security purposes. The mechanic will do a final check on the vehicle to confirm that the vehicle is in the same condition it was when you and him/her checked and road-tested it (vehicle battery, radio, spare wheel, jack, wheel wrench and other parts and accessories are still there and that there is no new dents, cracks or scratches etc.).
Lastly, ensure you have money in your MPESA account for the payment of the motor vehicle transfer charges which vary based on the vehicle type such as saloon, lorry etc. and engine capacity (“cc.”). KES. 6,000.00 is the maximum amount one may be required to pay at present and minimum around KES. 1,000.00.
Ensure that you have access to internet for the purposes of accessing NTSA TIMS portal transferring the vehicle from the owner’s NTSA TIMS account to your NTSA TIMS account.
Confirm and double check that:
the engine number (called Vehicle Identification Number “VIN”) on the vehicle matches the one on the NTSA TIMS Search and the original logbook; if it does not, then the vehicle is either stolen, or duty was not paid and has been given the registration of another scrapped or written off vehicle;
the original logbook is authentic and not a forgery;
the names on the owner’s original logbook match the names on the NTSA TIMS portal;
the ID Number or Passport Number and PIN Number on the owner’s TIMS account match those on their original National ID or Passport and PIN Certificate; and
there is no other listed owner on the logbook or the TIMS portal such as a bank, financial institution or a motor dealer etc. and if there is, abort the transaction until the other owner consents to the sale and agrees to transfer the vehicle together with the owner to you.
The seller will then sign the Motor Vehicle Sale Agreement, handover the original logbook, motor vehicle keys and the buyer will hand over the Bankers Cheque. Also ask for an invoice and/or a receipt (if available).
Take your vehicle, legal documentation and go.
After the Purchase
If the engine had been changed, arrange with the seller to accompany you to the Nairobi Traffic Headquarters along Ngong Road, next to Kenyatta Hospital or the nearest traffic base or police station for the police to sign the replaced engine IDF document or purchase receipt.
Depending on the vehicl type, you can book online on the NTSA TIMS portal for the vehicle’s inspection by NTSA Motor Vehicle Inspection Unit at Industrial Area, Nairobi or the nearest regional Inspection Unit.
Follow up with NTSA two weeks after the transfer, to collect your new logbook in your name. Note to carry your original ID or Passport and the original logbook in the previous owner’s/seller’s name.
Lastly, never ever pay any “Commitment Fee” or any amount “to enable a seller to bring the car to you for viewing or for fuel” or any “Advance Payment”. KES 5,000 or KES. 50,000 is not a small amount! Neither is KES 600,000 or KES 1,000,000. Be smart and take your time and due diligence. Above all, follow our advice here to the letter. Be a little paranoid!☺
On May 21 2018, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, Dr. Fred Matiangi announced a looming crackdown on foreigners who are in Kenya illegally, including those who are in Kenya legally but are working illegally.
He gave them a sixty (60) days’ ultimatum to present themselves to the Department of Immigration and Registration of Persons and get the requisite legal documentation or risk arrest and being jailed.
Following his announcement, the Department of Immigration and Registration of Persons has issued a notice that a verification exercise of all work permit holders will be undertaken at the Department of Immigration with effect from 21st May 2018 to 21st July 2018.
During the sixty (60) days’ period, all work permit holders will be required to attend in person at the Department of Immigration, at Nyayo House, Nairobi for the verification exercise which will include taking of fingerprints and (passport) photos of the work permit holders.
The work permit holders will be have to carry the following documents with them for the exercise purposes:
their original work permits;
their original and valid passport with the official endorsement of the work permit on it;
a valid foreigners certificate card (also referred to as alien card) or foreigners waiting card;
the official payment receipt of the work permit; and
On May 21 2018, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, Dr. Fred Matiangi announced a looming crackdown on foreigners who are in Kenya illegally, including those who are in Kenya legally but are working illegally.