Aron Asiiba Matendechele alias Nitakufinya Man has moved to court to sued Co-operative Bank, National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPD) and Ruiru Mabati Factory in separate cases.
Matendechele became a sensation after a video of him threatening another man in Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums went viral on social media.
He was warning his friend Charles Musyoka who was being interviewed by K24 over electricity crisis in the slum.
Corporates also rode on the ‘Nitakufinya’ moment and now Matendechele is seeking to be compensated by the corporates for using his image or video to advertise their products.
Nitakufinya Man has sued Co-operative Bank, National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPD) and Ruiru Mabati Factory through his lawyer Prof Tom Ojienda in separate cases filed before the High Court.
In his affidavit, Nitakufinya Man indicated that Co-operative Bank published a story containing his image on their Facebook and Instagram pages on July 5th and 22nd this year.
His photo was published alongside a banter which read; “Banker akiona loan defaulter akikula kuku town (when a banker sees a loan defaulter eating chicken.)
The plaintiff urges that the defendant used his images without his consent resulting to misappropriation of his identity.
“Void of consent from the applicant to enable the respondent to act in such contemptuous manner amounts to an invasion of his privacy through misappropriation of his identity or likeness or persona,” read the affidavit in part.
Nitakufinya Man further claims that Co-operative Bank subjected him to forced labor and servitude since it has neither compensated him for the traction it has gained and continues to reap profits from his image.
The plaintiff is crying foul claiming that as a result of Co-operative bank action his family, friends and creditors came calling assuming he is rich.
“The said actors have subjected me to psychological torture because the society, peer, associates, family, business partners and affiliates now perceive me to have gained financially from the advertisements. I am living with apprehension that my creditors are on the verge of recovering their debts.”
Ruiru Mabati Factory was also sued for running his image of an advert saying, “Mambo ya mabati achia wenye najua, usifinywe, nunua Ruiru Mabati”.
In his suit, Nitakufinya Man says the message by Ruiru Mabati Factory was meant to attract buyers to choose Ruiru Mabati products. He asserts that he didn’t give the company permission to use his image.
NCPB is also said to have posted “Nitakufinya” video on their Instagram page without consulting the him.
The video read “when you spot a rodent near your harvest”. He said NCPB is trying to benefit from him without paying anything.
Related: Why Co-op Bank teller who stole millions is to pay a fine of Sh250,000 only
