Ruto Trademarks Mambo ni Matatu Phrase

President William Ruto makes the Mambo ni Matatu phrase during the Africa Climate Summit on September 6, 2023.
President William Ruto makes the Mambo ni Matatu phrase during the Africa Climate Summit on September 6, 2023.
PCS

President William Ruto has registered the 'mambo ni matatu' phrase as a trademark, securing exclusive rights to use the phrase.

Through his lawyer Adrian Kamotho, people will be required to seek permission to use the phrase alongside gesturing the three fingers.

The phrase has become popular in the past weeks following Ruto's stern warning to sugar cartels hindering the government's plan to revive the ailing industry.

Ruto offered three options to alleged cartels including fleeing the country, going to jail, or going to heaven.

President William Ruto presiding over the pass out of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) recruits in Nakuru County on October 11, 2023.
President William Ruto presiding over the pass out of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) recruits in Nakuru County on October 11, 2023.
PCS

" We cannot continue to entertain this. We need a lasting break. All thieves must stop their acts," he stated during a tour in the Western region.

"There is no place for such people. There are only three options; Leave the country, go to jail, or go to heaven."

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; Speed, scale, and affordability are required to ease access to finances

The phrase has become popular and is used widely on social media platforms, with politicians referencing to the catchphrase during their speeches.

Consequently, Kenyans seized 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. 

"People should also be put in order. Everyone is speaking about three things, why is no one speaking about ten things?" Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka posed.

"When someone does something wrong, they should be told they are in the wrong because what matters is the lives of Kenyans and we want to develop here a democratic culture."

Kalonzo Musyoka co-chairing dialogue team at Bomas on August 9, 2023.
Kalonzo Musyoka co-chairing dialogue team at Bomas on August 9, 2023.
Photo
UDA
  • .