Pay Ksh200K Or Spend 5 Years In Jail For Using Ruto's 'Mambo Ni Matatu'
Adrian Kamotho, the president's lawyer, revealed that anyone wishing to use the phrase alongside the three fingers must now seek permission from Ruto.
Marvin Chege 
The Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) has allowed President William Ruto to trademark the infamous 'Mambo Ni Matatu' remarks.
This now gives the Head of State exclusive rights to use the phrase, which has become popular in the past few weeks as a chilling three-step prescription on his push to chase away select tycoons he accused of manipulating the sugar sector.
Adrian Kamotho, the president's lawyer, revealed that anyone wishing to use the phrase alongside the three fingers must now seek permission from Ruto.
“The translation into English of the Kiswahili words ‘mambo ni matatu’ is ‘things are three (there are three options)’,” he explained.
President William Ruto in attendance at a consultative meeting with Western Kenya leaders. /PCS
Kenyans who contravene the trademark law and use the phrase as well as the three fingers without permission risk being fined Ksh200,000 or sentenced to five years in jail, according to the Trademark Act.
However, some Kenyans believed that lawyers representing politicians and persons behind some of Kenya's viral phrases were out to extort members of the public by putting every popular item as a trademark.
"It was a great phrase so suddenly you can't use it so it means...not everything has to be trademarked. It was free branding, I hope it is only not to someone out to exploit it commercially," Businessman and hotelier, Mohammed Hersi posted on X.
Speaking at the Kenya
Ignoring the backlash he faced over his 'waende mbinguni' remarks, Ruto repeated the three options he laid on the table to the cartels; to either flee the country, risk jail terms or 'go to heaven'.
"They have filled in so many words in the newspapers I don't know LSK have said this, Azimio people have said that, let me repeat so that they listen properly.
"Corrupt officials, cartels and thieves, those misusing public coffers have destroyed Mumias and Nzoia companies because everything has become a mess and then they are coming here and pretending. They should leave Kenya, and if they don't leave, we will jail them, and if they continue, they should make plans to go to heaven," he addressed, much to the cheers of the crowd.
He repeated the phrase during the Africa Climate Summit, as he explained ways to ease access to finance by African countries.
"We are thinking about financing in Africa, three things are very important. As we say in Kenya, mambo ni matatu;
"Number one, speed. It takes inordinate (time) to access any meaningful resources. Number two, it requires skill because we’ve all agreed that enormous resources are required and number three, affordability so that we both pay the same," he stated.
The phrase has become popular and is used widely on social media platforms, with politicians referencing the catchphrase during their speeches and Kenyans taking the opportunity to print the phrase on T-shirts for sale.
On the other hand, the phrase attracted backlash from the members of the Opposition who cautioned Ruto against using threats in his capacity as the president.
To make matters worse, Operation Linda Jamii on Tuesday, September 5 filed a petition at the Milimani-based High Court against the President through the Attorney General's Office over his remarks, arguing that they amounted to death threats by a Head of State who is supposed to be a symbol of national unity.
![Xtian Dela's Mother's Appeal After Son Vanishes For 4 Years, Blocks Her [VIDEO]](https://viraltea.co.ke/uploads/images/2023/03/image_380x226_6403e93c3a529.jpg){kind=small}
![Revellers Captured Beating Up Phone Thief During Live Nairobi Concert [VIDEO]](https://viraltea.co.ke/uploads/images/2023/10/image_380x226_653e8f891aa5f.jpg){kind=small}
