The Central Organization Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has now applied to have his famous slogan "Alaa!" trademarked.

The COTU boss is reported to have applied to the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) for exclusive rights for the use of the word.

If trademarked, it will mean that anyone within the Kenyan territory will be mandated to seek acceptance from Atwoli to be allowed to use the slogan "Alaa!".

This will apply to all those intending to use the word whether online, offline and in public.

Similarly, Kenyans wishing to challenge Atwoli’s decision have until December 29, 2021 to do so.

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Those who intend to challenge the move will be required to carry Sh5,000 if they are Kenyan citizens, or Sh2,500 if they are foreigners.

According to KIPI, a trademark is a symbol used to identify the items of an industrial or commercial firm, or a collection of such enterprises.

“The sign may consist of one or more distinctive works, letters, numbers, drawings or pictures, monograms, signatures, colors or a combination of colors,” reads KIPI’s website.

Atwoli, with his famous characteristic chuckle, made the phrase to go viral when he appeared on Citizen TV during an interview with Jeff Koinange in February.

The topic of discussion at the time was who would be best suited to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta when his term of office comes to an end in August 2022.

“I told you, Jeff, I don’t know who is going to be the President but I know who is not going to be the President, Alaa! Alaa! Alaa,” he exclaimed.

The phrase has become so common that even companies in the corporate world are now using the slogan to promote their brands without giving credit to its originator.