SECTOR
Technology & Telecoms
OLM Law advises technology companies, fintech startups and telecoms operators in Kenya on contracts, data protection, regulation and M&A.
DISCUSS YOUR MATTER →Legal advisory for technology companies, telecoms operators and digital businesses.
Technology and telecoms lawyers for operators, SaaS and platform businesses, software developers and startups in Kenya. We advise on Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) licensing, Data Protection Act 2019 compliance and ODPC registration, SaaS and licensing agreements, IP protection, and technology M&A in “Silicon Savannah” — one of Africa’s most dynamic digital markets.
Relevant expertise: Data Protection & Privacy; Intellectual Property; Corporate & Commercial; Competition & Antitrust; Employment & Labour
How we help. We act for telecoms operators, SaaS and platform businesses, software developers and startups on Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) licensing, Data Protection Act 2019 compliance and ODPC registration, SaaS and licensing agreements, terms of service and acceptable-use policies, IP protection and assignment, technology M&A and fundraising, and the employment and immigration questions that fast-scaling tech businesses face.
Why OLM for technology and telecoms. Nairobi’s “Silicon Savannah” is the continent’s leading tech hub, and the regulatory perimeter — data protection, content, payments, competition — keeps expanding. Our combined data-protection, IP and corporate capability gives founders and investors a single team that can paper a funding round, protect the code and keep the product compliant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a software or SaaS business need a licence in Kenya? Pure software/SaaS generally does not require a sector licence, but data-processing triggers ODPC registration, and any communications or payment functionality may engage CA or CBK licensing. We assess the perimeter for your product.
How do startups protect their IP in Kenya? Through trade-mark registration at KIPI, copyright in code and content, well-drafted IP-assignment clauses with founders and contractors, and confidentiality agreements. We build an IP framework that protects the business as it scales.
What telecoms licences does the Communications Authority issue? The CA issues network-facility, network-service and application-service licences, as well as spectrum authorisations. We advise operators on the right licence category and manage the application process.
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Technology & Telecoms Law in Kenya
Kenya is the technology hub of East Africa — home to Silicon Savannah, a thriving fintech ecosystem, a rapidly growing e-commerce market and one of the continent’s most advanced mobile-money platforms. OLM Law advises technology companies, telecoms operators, digital-platform businesses, fintech startups, investors and regulators on the commercial and regulatory issues that define Kenya’s digital economy.
The regulatory landscape
The technology and telecoms sector is regulated by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) under the Kenya Information and Communications Act, with financial technology regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya under the National Payment Systems Act. The Data Protection Act, administered by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, creates a comprehensive data-privacy framework that applies across all digital businesses. The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act adds a cybersecurity compliance layer. We help clients navigate these overlapping frameworks to grow their businesses confidently.
How we help
- Technology contracts — software licences, SaaS agreements, IT outsourcing, system-integration and cloud-services contracts.
- Data protection and privacy — ODPC registration, privacy policies, data-processing agreements and breach-response advisory.
- Fintech and payments — CBK licensing, National Payment Systems compliance, e-money and mobile-money regulatory advisory.
- Telecoms regulation — Communications Authority licensing, spectrum, infrastructure sharing and consumer-protection compliance.
- Technology M&A and investment — structuring acquisitions, seed and series rounds, term-sheet negotiation and technology asset transactions.
Relevant expertise
We draw on our Corporate & Commercial, Banking & Finance, Intellectual Property and Dispute Resolution teams for technology clients — linking to each of those practice-area pages.
To grow your technology or telecoms business in Kenya, contact OLM Law.
