In November 2022, Kenya’s deputy president Rigathi Gachagua applied for rights to ownership of ”Riggy G”, a nickname he acquired a few months after ascending to office.
The Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) has accepted the politician’s application hence he will soon have full legal rights to the nickname “Riggy G”.
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According to the Daily Nation, if no one files a valid opposition, Gachagua will have complete rights to exploit the nickname in all sorts of printed material, clothes and headgear, and entertainment events.
As per the Trademark Rights, anyone who falsely uses a trademark faces a 5-year jail term, a Ksh200,000 fine, or both.
“Any person who sells or imports any goods or performs any services to which a registered trademark is falsely applied shall be guilty of an offence. The person is also liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both,” the Act reads.
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Ivy Chelimo, a law student at Catholic University at the time, coined the term while discussing the deputy presidential debate in July of last year. Kenyans quickly adopted it because they deemed it appropriate when referring to Kenya’s deputy president.
“Riggy G” was also embraced by Gachagua. He later met Chelimo, a month after his inauguration, in October 2022.
As a sign of appreciation, Gachagua offered the Catholic University alumna a job at his official office in Nairobi’s Harambee Annex.
