Kenya: Why You Risk Going to Jail for Using President Ruto's 'Mambo Ni Matatu' Catchphrase Without Permission

11 October 2023
Capital FM (Nairobi)
By Bruhan Makong

Nairobi — Anyone seeking to use the now popular "Mambo Ni Matatu" catchphrase will be required to first seek permission from President William Ruto.

This comes after President Ruto trademarked the catchphrase loosely translated as 'Things are three' making it an intellectual property.

The revelation was made by President Ruto's lawyer Adrian Kamotho.

"Registration of this mark shall give no right to the exclusive use of the numeral '3' and the device of 'human fingers' per se each separately and apart from the mark as a whole," read a notice from Kamotho.

The phrase first gained prominence on September when President Ruto used it to warn the sugar "cartels" who were accused of sabotaging the sector.

President Ruto had warned that the corrupt elements must choose between leaving the country, being committed to jail, or going to heaven.

"I have told all those people to get out. That company (Mumias Sugar) is a public company, and we will reorganize it. There are three options; either leave Kenya, end up in jail or go to heaven," President Ruto said when he toured the western sugar belt.

Ruto's statement attracted a backlash from both the opposition and members of civil society who warned it could lead to illegal detentions.

However, the phrase has now been adopted by different persons and sectors including business persons.

Read the original article on Capital FM.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2023 Capital FM. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.