Former popular journalist Esther Arunga, who divorced Quincy Timberlake, has formally reverted to her maiden name after dropping the surname she adopted when they married in March 2010.
A Deed Poll executed on October 2, 2026, was registered at the Registry of Documents in Nairobi and published in the Kenya Gazette on October 9, 2026, under Gazette Notice No. 16203.
“That I, Esther Adongo Arunga… formerly known as Esther Adongo Timberlake, have formally and absolutely renounced and abandoned the use of my former name Esther Adongo Timberlake and in lieu thereof assumed and adopted the name Esther Adongo Arunga, for all purposes,” the notice stated.
In Kenya, a divorced woman can revert to her maiden name or adopt another name through a formal name-change process.
The Registration of Documents Act (Cap. 285) and the Registration of Documents (Change of Name) Regulations, Legal Notice No. 277 of 1967, govern the procedure.
A Deed Poll is a legal document in which a person declares they are abandoning their former name and adopting a new one. Kenyan law does not require a divorced woman to retain her former husband’s surname.
Requirements Needed
Applicants seeking to remove a former husband’s surname generally need the following documents:
- Deed Poll on Change of Name (Form 1), completed and signed in both the former and new names.
- Statutory declaration (Form 6), sworn by a person who meets the prescribed requirements.
- Birth certificate.
- Marriage certificate or other evidence of the marriage.
- Decree Absolute or divorce certificate confirming that the marriage has ended.
- Deed Poll commissioning or attestation by an advocate, magistrate or Commissioner for Oaths.
- Payment of the prescribed registration fee.
Also Read: How to Add Father’s Name to a Child’s Birth Certificate After Marriage
How to Remove the Name
Obtain divorce documents: Secure the Decree Absolute or divorce certificate. For a customary marriage, you may need a court order dissolving the marriage.
Prepare the Deed Poll: Complete Form 1 to declare that you are abandoning your former husband’s surname and adopting your maiden or chosen name. Sign it in both names.
Complete the statutory declaration: Prepare Form 6 and have an authorized official swear it.
Submit the documents: Lodge the Deed Poll, statutory declaration, birth certificate, marriage evidence, and divorce documents with the Registrar of Documents.
Also Read: Why WhatsApp Usernames Are Raising Concerns Among Job Seekers and Businesses
Register the name change: Pay the prescribed fee and complete the registration process.
Publish the notice: The Registrar publishes the registered Deed Poll in the Kenya Gazette as required by the procedure.
Update your national ID: Apply to the Registrar of Persons for a replacement ID reflecting the new name. Requirements include a divorce certificate for registered marriages or a court order for a dissolved customary marriage.
Update other records: Change your name on your passport, KRA PIN, bank accounts, mobile-money accounts, insurance policies, pension records, and employment documents, as applicable.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
