President William Ruto (pictured) has patented the now famous ‘Mambo ni Matatu’ phrase, which he has been using to mean “there are three options’ (especially for crime suspects).

The President patented the phrase through the Adrian Kamotho Njenga & Company Advocates.
It now means he enjoys exclusive rights to the use of the phrase and it will now be illegal to use it.

“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. The translation into English of the Kiswahili words ‘Mambo ni matatu’ is ‘Things are three’,” the Kenya Industries Property Institute (KIPI) said as it approved the trademark.

Targeting cartels

President Ruto first made the remark targeting cartels in the sugar industry.

The President, who was speaking in Bungoma county in August, accused influential businessmen fighting over the control of Mumias Sugar Company of frustrating efforts to revive ailing public sugar millers in the Western region.

The phrase attracted attention from Kenyans, with some of the corporate organizations adopting it to advertise their services.

Similarly, a section of Azimio la Umoja condemned the President’s remarks targeted on tycoons that they get ready to be ‘deported, jailed or go to heaven’ as reckless, adding that they pose a threat to investors in the country.

“We, Azimio condemn such utterances made by the president since this is a democratic country governed by the rule of law and the ripple effect of such statements cannot be off-stated,” the MPs said.