Image Rights: Star Footballer Victor Wanyama Sues Kenyan Company for Tweeting His Photo

Kenyan footballer Victor Wanyama has filed a lawsuit against manufacturing company, Menengai Oil Refineries for using his image without his consent.

In a case filed at the High Court in Nairobi, the 28-year-old Harambee Stars skipper accuses Menengai of making a tweet using his photo against his will.

Wanyama, who plays for London-based Tottenham Hotspurs, argues that the tweet by Menengai purported to wish Harambee Stars well in the 2019 African Cup of Nations Championship (AFCON), where Kenya exited at the group stage.

“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 the tweet which accompanied Wanyama’s photo.
Wanyama avers that the tweet was meant to promote the company’s business and not to show support for Harambee Stars as alleged.

“If the message was meant for the whole team, photo comprising the entire team could have been used,” court documents read.

He wants the court to find that the respondent used his image without his approval and that the tweet contravened his image and personality rights. 

He further asks the court to declare that the image published by Menengai constitutes a marketing advertisement and that he is entitled to damages from the respondent as a result of a violation of his image.