Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder and Harambee Stars captain Victor Mugubi Wanyama on Wednesday, August 7, moved to the Nairobi Milimani high court in a case against Menengai Oil Refineries Limited. He is accusing the firm of using his image in a tweet on June 21st, the day the Africa Cup of Nations kicked off in Egypt.
According to Wanyama, the tweet purported to wish the Kenya national team Harambee Stars well in the continental tournament. He is, however, convinced that the Menegai Group meant to promote the company’s business and not to show support to team Kenya as purported.
“If you believe it, you can do it, we at the Menengai would like to wish our boys all the best in the Africa Cup of Nations,” read a tweet that has since been deleted, posted by the firm’s official Twitter handle.
Wanyama feels the use of his image in the tweet without his consent has infringed on his personality and image rights.
“If the message was meant for the whole team, a photo comprising the entire team could have been used,” Wanyama argued in his complaint.
Wanyama wants the court to declare that Menengai violated his image and personality rights. He also wants the court to declare that the image published by the Menengai Group constitutes a marketing advertisement.
Additionally, the Harambee Stars Captain wants the court to pronounce that he is entitled to damages from the respondent as a result of a violation of his image.
Wanyama’s move has since received a negative response from netizens terming it as a selfish pose that wants to commercialize a wish of luck.
Dennis Munyasa an electrical engineer said this
By suing @Menengaioil Wanyama is now displaying a selfish image. How can you turn well wishes by @MenengaiOil to the national team a profit making agenda? I thought nigger was earning a fortune in the UK? pic.twitter.com/1i8s7cIIDM
— Munyasa Dennis (@MunyasaDennis) August 8, 2019
A political/Security analyst, activist, social entrepreneur, and public administrator Anyamah Douglas said this
I think this very cheap from @VictorWanyama with all the respect we have for him as our captain.
Soccer star Victor Wanyama sues @MenengaiOil over image use in a tweet wishing the Kenyan team success during #AFCON2019 in Egypt.#ArrestJoeMwangi #wanyama pic.twitter.com/lOyFTFZp7q
— Anyamah Douglas (@danyamah) August 8, 2019
