Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja plans to create incubation hubs that will shield Kenyan startups from the hawk-eyed KRA.
In Sakaja’s bill, Kenyan startups that will be admitted to incubation hubs will pay less tax.
This, however, will materialiize if the Parliament adopts proposals in a Bill which seeks to promote innovation among enterprises.
The Startup Bill, 2020 recommends a range of incentives including fiscal and non-fiscal support as well as protection of intellectual property rights.
Speaking of Intellectual property, Safaricom’s team led by the Safaricom Killer director was accused of Intellectual property theft– a big shame from a firm that ought to be giving more support to the tech creatives and innovators.
Back to Startup Bill 2020, Lack of capital has been flagged as key put off for entrepreneurship in Kenya, especially among the youth eyeing to kick-off their first ventures.
“The Bill seeks to provide a legislative framework that promotes an enabling environment for the establishment, development, conduct of business and regulation of startups,” said Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja who has sponsored the Bill.
Other aims include the following:
- Facilitate the provision of fiscal and non-fiscal support to startups in Kenya;
- Provide a framework that promotes an enabling environment for the establishment, development, conduct of business and regulation of startups;
- The establishment of incubation facilities at the National and county levels of government;
- Establish an environment that promotes the establishment of startups; and
- Monitoring and evaluation of the legal and regulatory framework to encourage the development of startups.
According to the Bill, the Kenya National Innovation Agency will be tasked with the registration of startups under the Startup Bill, 2020.
The Bill further details the role of the Registrar of Startups, who will keep an updated database of all registered startups, register and supervise startups registered under this Act to ensure compliance with the provisions of the bill and keep all documents and records of registered startups, to mention a few.
The Bill adds that a startup can enter an incubation program if it is:
- registered in Kenya as a company, partnership, limited liability partnership or non-governmental organization – all under the Companies Act, Limited Liability Partnership Act and Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Act, respectively;
- is newly registered or has been in existence not more than seven years from the date of its incorporation or registration; and for biotech startups, up to ten years from the date of its incorporation or registration;
- has its human resources, total assets, and annual turnover number as prescribed by the Cabinet Secretary;
- has its headquarters in Kenya;
- is majority owned by one or more citizens of Kenya;
- at least fifteen percent the entity’s expenses can be attributed to research and development activities; and
- is a holder, depositary or licensee of a registered patent or the owner and author of a registered software.
