Court orders Airtel Kenya Limited to pay Willis Raburu Sh5M for using his trademark

Media personality Willis Raburu, the director of digital services and Innovations at Cape Media has taken it to his social media account to celebrate his win over the Airtel lawsuit.

Willis Raburu sued Airtel Kenya for using his registered trademark without obtaining the required rights.

The Milimani Commercial Court has ordered Airtel Kenya Limited to pay media personality Willis Raburu Sh5 million plus additional damages for the use of his trademark, ‘Bazu’.

The renowned media personality told the court that he had formally registered the trademark name Bazu.  

Raburu expressed his gratitude for the recent judgment delivered by Judge Rawlings Museiga in the magistrate’s court, adding it holds Airtel Kenya accountable for infringing on his registered trademark ‘BAZU’.

Willis further acknowledged Airtel Kenya as a respected brand and business but also emphasized how imperative it was for him to safeguard his own brand and name under ‘BAZU’ trademark.

The Cape media director of digital services and innovations in his statement further urged that respect for intellectual property is paramount, and those using the name BAZU without authority will face similar consequences adding that legal notices have already been served.

Raburu had on June 24, 2022 sued the telecommunication company for using his trademark ‘Bazu’ in promoting its new bundles’ plan ‘Bazu Bundle’.

Through his lawyer Victor Orandi of Mathew and Partners Advocates, Raburu filed the case at the High Court but was on May 9, 2023, transferred to the magistrates court.

The court also gave Airtel Kenya a 45-day stay of execution and said it could appeal within the stated period.