INSPEKTA MWALA FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST COCA-COLA & AWINJA 

Actor Davis Mwabili popularly known as Inspekta Mwala, has  filed a case against beverage giant Coca-Cola and actress Jacky Vike also known as Awinja, over unauthorised use of his trademark.

Through an application submitted to the High Court, Mwabili has named Coca-Cola Central East and West Africa Limited, Coca-Cola Beverages Kenya Limited, and actress Awinja as respondents. The actor is seeking a court order to prohibit them from employing the term ka-mwala in any advertising or promotional material linked to the beverage latest Campaign.

According to court filings, Mwabili contends that ka-mwala bears a deceptive resemblance to his legally registered trademark Mwala. He asserts that this name has been integral to his comedic identity since the 1990s, was officially registered in 2010, and features prominently in his well-known works such as Vitimbi and Inspekta Mwala.

The legal dispute stems from a promotional video posted by Vike in May 2024 across various social media channels. In that clip, ka-mwala is used to refer to a 200ml Coca-Cola soda bottle. Mwabili argues that the term is both phonetically and conceptually akin to his trademark, potentially misleading the public into thinking he endorses or is connected to the product.

He further notes that the campaign has already generated confusion among his followers, some of whom have reportedly asked whether he is involved. He attributes this misunderstanding to his decades-long career on Kenyan radio and television, including appearances on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) and Citizen TV.

Through his application, he requests temporary injunctions to stop the use of ka-mwala, the removal of all related content from digital platforms, and a full accounting of any profits derived from the campaign. He also seeks additional court orders to protect his intellectual property rights.