The Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO has arrested a suspect linked to a sophisticated online piracy network distributing copyrighted television content belonging to licensed broadcasters.
In a statement on Friday, October 10, KECOBO said the suspect, identified as Kelvin Kiplagat Singóei, was arrested in Kiplombe, Uasin Gishu County.
According to the board, the suspect was reselling premium television channels, including popular sports and entertainment networks.
“The suspect, Kelvin Kiplagat Singóei, was apprehended in Kiplombe, Uasin Gishu County, for distributing and reselling illegal streams of premium television channels, including popular sports and entertainment networks.
“The unauthorized services were marketed through various online platforms and social media accounts, offering consumers access to Pay-TV content without the required licenses,” read the statement in part.
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KECOBO pointed out that the illegal operation infringed copyright laws and also posed serious cybersecurity and data privacy risks to users.
Investigations revealed that the subscribers of the illegal operation were required to share personal information and make digital payments through unverified platforms, exposing them to data breaches, financial fraud, and malware infections.
Following the arrest, the suspect appeared before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Eldoret on 7 October 2025, where he was released on a cash bail of Ksh300,000, with a surety of the same amount.
The case will be mentioned on Monday, October 13, 2025, as investigations continue to consolidate evidence and witness statements.
Speaking after the operation, acting KECOBO CEO George Nyakweba condemned piracy activities, saying they deprive creators and broadcasters of their rightful earnings
“Illegal distribution of copyrighted content deprives creators and broadcasters of their rightful earnings and discourages investment in local production, sports development, and employment within the media sector.
“Subscribing to such services exposes consumers to high cybersecurity risks, as their personal and financial data can be compromised or misused by criminal networks,” he stated.
Nyakweba also said the board will continue working closely with rights holders and other enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute offenders.
This comes weeks after KECOBO arrested two suspects for allegedly distributing pirated digital copies of newspapers.
The two were apprehended during a coordinated operation involving the board and the Nation Media Group PLC, and the National Police Service.
"In collaboration with Nation Media Group PLC and the National Police Service, we conducted a raid that led to the arrest of two individuals involved in the illegal distribution of digital newspapers," the board said in a statement.
The suspects appeared before the Milimani Law Courts, where they faced charges of copyright infringement.
The court granted each suspect a cash bail of Ksh100,000 or an alternative bond of Ksh500,000.
