NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya has taken a strong stand against digital piracy, with the recent takedown of the popular unauthorized sports streaming site, Score808.US.
In a collaborative raid between the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) and the National Police Service, officials seized the site’s backend systems in Makadara Subcounty, Nairobi, on October 29.
This operation marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s commitment to upholding intellectual property rights and securing revenue for its growing creative sector.
Score808.US, with its substantial user base of over 21,000 active visitors at any given time, had become a go-to site for fans seeking free access to premium sports content.
The platform attracted an impressive 27.6 million unique visitors globally last year, with Kenya contributing a hefty 32pc of that traffic.
Viewers could stream top sports events, including English Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A matches—all without proper licensing or authorization.
This operation underscores Kenya’s increasing efforts to curtail digital piracy, especially as illegal streaming sites continue to siphon off potential revenue from both content creators and the government.
The raid, spearheaded by KECOBO, resulted in the seizure of the site’s backend database, along with a laptop and mobile phone critical to the site’s operation.
These devices are now undergoing forensic analysis by the Police Cyber Crime Unit, as officials dig deeper into the individuals behind the platform.
According to George Nyakweba, KECOBO’s Acting Executive Director, the crackdown sends a clear message about Kenya’s zero-tolerance policy on piracy.
Nyakweba highlighted that safeguarding intellectual property rights is key to sustaining Kenya’s creative industry and ensuring the collection of taxes owed from legitimate content consumption.
Kenya’s action has also garnered praise from cybersecurity experts abroad. Frikkie Jonker of Irdeto, a digital platform security firm, described the raid as a “landmark step in fighting piracy across Africa.”
He stressed that operations like these not only protect legitimate content creators but also strengthen the overall media landscape across the continent.
As additional arrests are expected in connection with Score808.US, Kenya’s proactive measures may inspire other nations facing similar challenges to intensify their anti-piracy campaigns.
The shutdown of Score808.US stands as a testament to Kenya’s resolve in securing its digital future—one where creators, investors, and the government all benefit from a robust, lawful content ecosystem.
