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Sponsorship Agreement (Kenya)

Sponsorship Agreement (Kenya)

SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT

Law of Contract Act Cap. 23 | Income Tax Act Cap. 470 | Sports Act No. 25 of 2013

THIS SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT is made on [Agreement Date]

BETWEEN:

(1) [Sponsor Name] (BRS Registration Number: [Sponsor BRS Number]; KRA PIN: [Sponsor KRA PIN]), having its registered office at [Sponsor Address] (the "Sponsor"); and

(2) [Sponsored Party Name] (KRA PIN: [Sponsored Party KRA PIN]), having its registered office or address at [Sponsored Party Address] (the "Sponsored Party").

The Sponsor and the Sponsored Party are hereinafter referred to individually as a "Party" and collectively as the "Parties".

BACKGROUND

A. The Sponsored Party organises, manages, or operates: [Sponsored Property Name][Sponsored Property Description] (the "Sponsored Property").

B. The Sponsor wishes to provide financial support and/or in-kind contributions in exchange for the marketing, branding, and commercial rights set out in this Agreement, and the Sponsored Party agrees to provide such rights on the terms set out herein.

C. This Agreement is entered into under and shall be governed by the Law of Contract Act Cap. 23 and all other applicable laws of Kenya.

1. SPONSORED PROPERTY

1.1 The Sponsored Property is: [Sponsored Property Name].

1.2 Description: [Sponsored Property Description].

1.3 Event date or programme period: [Event Date].

1.4 Venue or location: [Event Venue].

1.5 Sponsorship category: [Sponsorship Category].

1.6 Exclusivity category: [Exclusivity Category]. For the duration of this Agreement, the Sponsored Party shall not accept sponsorship from any entity operating within the Sponsor's exclusivity category without the Sponsor's prior written consent.

2. SPONSOR RIGHTS AND DELIVERABLES

2.1 Naming rights: [Naming Rights].

2.2 Logo placement and brand visibility: [Logo Placement]. All placements shall comply with the Sponsor's brand guidelines as notified to the Sponsored Party in writing.

2.3 Hospitality entitlements: [Hospitality Entitlements].

2.4 Brand activation rights: [Activation Rights]. Activation content and activities shall comply with all applicable county government licences, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) guidelines under the Kenya Information and Communications Act Cap. 411A, and the requirements of the venue operator.

2.5 The Sponsored Party warrants that it has the authority to grant the Sponsor rights set out in Clause 2 and that the exercise of those rights will not infringe the rights of any third party.

3. EXCLUSIVITY AND AMBUSH MARKETING

3.1 The Sponsored Party shall take all reasonable steps to prevent ambush marketing — any attempt by a non-sponsor to associate its brand with the Sponsored Property without the Sponsor's authorisation — including: preventing non-sponsor signage within the event perimeter; refusing media accreditation to non-sponsor brands; enforcing ticket and accreditation terms against non-sponsors; and policing social media for false association.

3.2 The Sponsored Party's legal tools to combat ambush marketing under Kenyan law include proceedings under the Trade Marks Act Cap. 506 (administered by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute — KIPI), the Copyright Act Cap. 130 (administered by the Kenya Copyright Board — KCB), and common law passing-off claims.

3.3 The Sponsor's exclusive category is defined in Clause 1.6. An ambiguous or overly broad category definition shall be interpreted narrowly against the Sponsor.

4. SPONSORSHIP FEE AND PAYMENT

4.1 Total sponsorship fee: [Sponsorship Fee].

4.2 Payment schedule: [Payment Schedule]. Payment shall be made by electronic funds transfer to the Sponsored Party's nominated Kenyan bank account, details of which shall be provided in writing before the first payment date.

4.3 VAT: [VAT Treatment]. Where the Sponsored Party is VAT-registered under the Value Added Tax Act No. 35 of 2013, a valid KRA-compliant tax invoice shall be issued to the Sponsor for each payment, showing the taxable amount and VAT at 16%.

4.4 Withholding tax: [Withholding Tax]. Where the Sponsored Party is non-resident, the Sponsor shall deduct and remit withholding tax at 20% under Section 35 of the Income Tax Act Cap. 470 (or such reduced rate as may apply under an applicable Double Taxation Agreement) and provide the Sponsored Party with a withholding tax certificate.

4.5 For the corporate Sponsor, sponsorship expenditure may be deductible as a marketing or advertising expense under Section 15(2) of the Income Tax Act Cap. 470, provided the expenditure is incurred wholly and exclusively in the production of taxable income. Confirmation of deductibility should be sought from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

5.1 The Sponsored Party grants the Sponsor a limited, non-transferable licence to use the Sponsored Property's name, logo, and official imagery for the following purposes and scope: [IP Licence Scope], for the duration of this Agreement only.

5.2 The Sponsor grants the Sponsored Party a limited licence to use the Sponsor's trade marks and brand materials solely for the purpose of fulfilling the Sponsor's rights under Clause 2, as approved in advance in writing by the Sponsor.

5.3 Neither Party acquires ownership of the other Party's intellectual property. All trade marks and copyright remain vested in the originating Party, subject to the licences granted herein under the Trade Marks Act Cap. 506 and the Copyright Act Cap. 130.

5.4 On termination of this Agreement, each Party shall immediately cease all use of the other Party's intellectual property and shall remove or destroy all materials incorporating the other Party's IP within 14 days of termination.

6. TERM, TERMINATION, AND MORALITY CLAUSE

6.1 This Agreement commences on [Agreement Date] and continues for: [Agreement Term].

6.2 Either Party may terminate this Agreement for convenience by giving [Notice Period] written notice to the other Party.

6.3 Either Party may terminate this Agreement immediately on written notice if the other Party commits a material breach and fails to remedy that breach within 14 days of written notice requiring remedy.

6.4 The Sponsor may terminate this Agreement immediately without liability if the Sponsored Party engages in conduct that would materially damage the Sponsor's brand reputation, including: [Morality Clause Triggers]. Under the Law of Contract Act Cap. 23, this morality clause is an express contractual term and is enforceable as such.

6.5 Force majeure: If either Party is prevented from performing its obligations by an event beyond its reasonable control — including natural disaster, government-ordered event ban, public health emergency under the Public Health Act Cap. 242, or civil unrest — that Party shall notify the other within 7 days and the Parties shall negotiate in good faith regarding rescheduling, credit of payments, or proportionate termination.

6.6 On termination by either Party: (a) all licences granted under Clause 5 terminate immediately; (b) amounts paid before termination are non-refundable unless the Sponsor terminates due to Sponsored Party breach; (c) amounts not yet paid are not due unless the Sponsored Party has delivered the corresponding deliverables.

7. GENERAL PROVISIONS

7.1 Governing law: This Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Kenya.

7.2 Dispute resolution: [Dispute Resolution]. Jurisdiction: [Governing County].

7.3 Entire agreement: This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties regarding the Sponsored Property and supersedes all prior negotiations, representations, and understandings.

7.4 Amendments: No amendment to this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by both Parties.

7.5 Assignment: Neither Party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have signed this Agreement on the date first written above.

Authorised Signatory (Sponsor)

________________

Signature

Authorised Signatory (Sponsored Party)

________________

Signature

Witness

________________

Signature

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What Is a Sponsorship Agreement (Kenya)?

A Sponsorship Agreement in Kenya sets out the rights, duties and consideration binding the parties to it.

The Law of Contract Act Cap. 23 governs the formation, performance, and enforcement of Sponsorship Agreements in Kenya. Section 2 of Cap. 23 requires offer, acceptance, lawful consideration, capacity of parties, and legality of purpose for a binding contract. The consideration in a sponsorship arrangement flows in both directions: the sponsor provides financial or in-kind support, and the sponsored party provides marketing exposure, naming rights, media coverage, and other agreed benefits. The courts of Kenya — particularly the High Court Commercial Division and the Court of Appeal — have consistently treated Sponsorship Agreements as enforceable commercial contracts under Cap. 23, awarding damages for breach of exclusivity clauses, failure to deliver agreed brand exposure, and non-payment of sponsorship fees.

The Sports Act No. 25 of 2013, administered by the State Department for Sports and the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund (SASDF), is relevant to sports-related sponsorships. The Act establishes the Sports Kenya Board — the successor to the Kenya Sports Council — and provides a framework for the registration and governance of national sports organisations, including the Kenya Football Federation (FKF), Athletics Kenya (AK), and the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU). Sponsorship agreements involving national sports federations or teams must be consistent with the relevant federation's constitution, competition regulations, and sponsorship policies, as well as the oversight framework of the Sports Act.

The Income Tax Act Cap. 470, administered by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), determines the tax treatment of sponsorship fees in Kenya. For a corporate sponsor, sponsorship expenditure may be deductible as a marketing or advertising expense under Section 15(2) of the Income Tax Act — deductible in the year of payment if the expenditure is incurred wholly and exclusively in the production of income. Sponsorship payments made to non-resident sponsored parties attract withholding tax under Cap. 470. The Value Added Tax Act No. 35 of 2013 applies to sponsorship arrangements where the sponsored party is VAT-registered and provides taxable supplies — the provision of advertising and marketing services by the sponsored party is taxable at 16% VAT.

The Kenya Copyright Board (KCB), established under the Copyright Act Cap. 130, is relevant where the Sponsorship Agreement involves the use of the sponsored party's intellectual property — logos, music, performances, video content, or brand identity — in the sponsor's marketing campaigns. The agreement must expressly address the licence to use the sponsored party's IP, the permitted uses, and the duration of the licence. The trade mark registration regime administered by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) under the Trade Marks Act Cap. 506 is also relevant where the agreement involves naming rights or branded partnerships.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), under the Kenya Information and Communications Act Cap. 411A and the Kenya Communications (Broadcasting) Regulations 2009, regulates sponsored broadcasting content. Broadcast sponsorship must be disclosed to viewers in compliance with the CA's broadcast sponsorship identification requirements, and political sponsorship in broadcasting is subject to specific CA restrictions during election periods under the Elections Act No. 24 of 2011 and IEBC regulations.

A Sponsorship Agreement must be clearly distinguished from a donation or grant (where no commercial benefit is expected by the donor), an advertising agreement (where the sponsor directly controls the content and placement of the advertising), an endorsement agreement (where an individual personally endorses a product), and a partnership or joint venture agreement (which creates a shared business relationship). Each creates a different tax, IP, and regulatory position under Kenyan law.

When Do You Need a Sponsorship Agreement (Kenya)?

A Sponsorship Agreement in Kenya is required in a wide range of commercial, sporting, cultural, and social contexts.

A Sponsorship Agreement is needed when a corporate sponsor finances a Kenyan football club, athletics team, or sporting event in exchange for branding rights, jersey logos, pitch-side advertising, and media exposure. The Kenya Football Federation (FKF), Athletics Kenya (AK), and other national sports federations registered under the Sports Act No. 25 of 2013 require member clubs and federations to document sponsorship arrangements in written agreements.

A Sponsorship Agreement is required when a company sponsors a music festival, cultural event, fashion show, or arts exhibition in Nairobi or other Kenyan cities. Without a written agreement, the sponsor has no enforceable right to the promised branding, hospitality, or exclusivity, and the event organiser has no documented obligation to deliver agreed benefits.

A Sponsorship Agreement is needed when an educational institution or scholarship programme receives corporate funding in exchange for naming rights — for example, a scholarship fund bearing the sponsor's name — and both parties need to document the terms, duration, and conditions of the funding arrangement.

A Sponsorship Agreement is required when a company provides financial support to a broadcaster, podcast, or digital content creator in Kenya in exchange for on-air or online brand mentions, pre-roll advertising, sponsored segments, or product placements. The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) requires broadcast sponsorship to be identified to the audience, and a written agreement documenting the scope of the sponsorship is essential for CA compliance.

A Sponsorship Agreement is needed when a foreign brand wishes to sponsor a Kenyan event or sports team, as the cross-border arrangement triggers withholding tax obligations under the Income Tax Act Cap. 470 and may require Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) guidance on the applicable double taxation agreement.

A Sponsorship Agreement is required when a government agency, county government, or public body sponsors a private event or programme, as the Public Finance Management Act No. 18 of 2012 and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act No. 33 of 2015 impose transparency and accountability requirements on the use of public funds for sponsorship purposes.

What to Include in Your Sponsorship Agreement (Kenya)

A valid and commercially effective Sponsorship Agreement in Kenya under the Law of Contract Act Cap. 23 must include the following essential elements.

Parties: Full legal names and registration details of the sponsor and the sponsored party, including their Business Registration Service (BRS) registration numbers, KRA PINs, registered addresses, and — for natural persons — national identity card numbers. Both parties must have full legal capacity to contract under Section 11 of the Law of Contract Act Cap. 23.

Description of the Sponsored Property: A precise description of the event, team, programme, broadcast, individual, or initiative being sponsored — including the name, dates, venue, expected attendance or audience reach, and the governing body or organiser. For sports sponsorships involving national teams or federations registered under the Sports Act No. 25 of 2013, the federation's approval of the sponsorship arrangement should be confirmed.

Sponsor Rights and Deliverables: A detailed schedule of the marketing and commercial benefits to be provided to the sponsor in exchange for the sponsorship fee. These typically include: naming rights (title sponsorship, presenting sponsorship, or category sponsorship); logo placement and brand visibility specifications (jersey, pitch-side boards, event signage, banners, and backdrops) with minimum size and placement requirements; media mentions and broadcast exposure guarantees; digital and social media mentions; hospitality entitlements (VIP tickets, corporate boxes, hospitality packages); product sampling and activation rights; right to use event IP in the sponsor's own marketing materials; and exclusivity within the sponsor's product or service category.

Exclusivity: Whether the sponsorship is exclusive (the sponsored party will not accept other sponsors in the same product or service category for the duration of the agreement) or non-exclusive. Exclusivity provisions should be carefully defined by category — for example, exclusive in the "financial services" or "telecommunications" category — and should address ambush marketing: steps the sponsored party will take to prevent competitors from associating their brand with the sponsored event or team without authorisation. The Trade Marks Act Cap. 506 and the Copyright Act Cap. 130 provide legal tools to combat ambush marketing.

Sponsorship Fee and Payment: The total sponsorship fee or the value of the in-kind sponsorship, stated in Kenya Shillings (KES) or another agreed currency; the payment schedule (lump sum, instalments, or event-milestone-based payments); the consequences of late payment; and VAT treatment under the Value Added Tax Act No. 35 of 2013. For corporate sponsors, the deductibility of the sponsorship fee as a marketing expense under Section 15(2) of the Income Tax Act Cap. 470 should be confirmed with KRA, and the agreement should address withholding tax obligations for payments to non-resident sponsored parties.

Intellectual Property: Ownership of IP created during the sponsorship period (advertising content, event materials, photographs, videos, and branded assets); the scope and duration of the licence granted to each party to use the other's trade marks, logos, and branding; restrictions on modifications to trade marks; and obligations on termination to cease use of the other party's IP. The agreement must comply with the Copyright Act Cap. 130 and the Trade Marks Act Cap. 506, both administered with oversight from the Kenya Copyright Board (KCB) and the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI).

Representations and Warranties: The sponsor's warranty that it has the right to use its trade marks and brand materials in the sponsorship; the sponsored party's warranty that the event or programme will take place as described, that it has the authority to grant the sponsor rights specified, and that the sponsorship will not violate any rights of third parties or any applicable law.

Activation Rights: Whether the sponsor has the right to conduct on-site brand activations (product demonstrations, sampling campaigns, branded experiences) at the sponsored event, and any restrictions on activation content, location, or timing imposed by the venue operator, county government licensing authorities, or the event organiser.

Termination: Grounds for termination including material breach with a cure period, insolvency, reputational harm (if the sponsored party's conduct significantly damages the sponsor's brand), cancellation of the sponsored event (force majeure provisions), and termination for convenience with an agreed notice period. Sponsors typically include a morality clause — sometimes called a conduct clause — allowing the sponsor to terminate if the sponsored party's public conduct, statements, or actions are incompatible with the sponsor's brand values.

Dispute Resolution and Governing Law: Kenyan law as the governing law, with disputes resolved by mediation or arbitration under the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA) Rules 2015, or by the High Court of Kenya under the Civil Procedure Act Cap. 21.

Forms-legal.com provides this Kenya Sponsorship Agreement template as a practical starting point for commercial sponsorship arrangements. Complex multi-year sponsorships, international sponsorship transactions, and broadcast sponsorship agreements should be reviewed by an advocate admitted to the Roll of Advocates of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) with commercial and IP law expertise.

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APA

Forms Legal. (2026). Sponsorship Agreement (Kenya) (Kenya) [Legal document template]. Forms Legal. https://forms-legal.com/kenya/business/contracts/sponsorship-agreement-kenya

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BibTeX
@misc{formslegal-sponsorship-agreement-kenya,
  author       = {{Forms Legal}},
  title        = {Sponsorship Agreement (Kenya) (Kenya)},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://forms-legal.com/kenya/business/contracts/sponsorship-agreement-kenya}},
  note         = {Free legal document template}
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Statute-referenced template — Template last modified June 2026

This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.Full disclaimer

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