How to Legally Change Your Name in Kenya

Changing your name in Kenya is a legal right and it’s simpler if you follow the proper process through the courts and registrar.

The procedure is guided by the Registration of Documents (Change of Name) Regulations, established under the Registration of Documents Act (Legal Notice 277 of 1967).

Here’s how you can petition for a legal name change in Kenya.

Prepare a Change of Name Deed (Deed Poll)

The process begins with completing Form 1, known as a Deed Poll on Change of Name.

This legal document states your intention to renounce your old name and adopt a new one. You must sign it under both your old and new names before a witness.

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If you’re a woman, you must specify your marital status spinster, married woman, widow, or feme-sole (divorced woman).

Minors over 16 must consent to their name change, and their parent or guardian must sign the deed on their behalf.

Gather Required Documents

Before submitting your petition, the following must be presented to the registrar:

• Birth certificate of the applicant.
• Marriage certificate and spouse’s written consent, if the applicant is a married woman.
• Death certificate of the spouse, if the applicant is a widow.
• Divorce decree or certificate, if the applicant is divorced.

If any of these documents were not registered, alternative proof may be accepted.

Make a Statutory Declaration

Attach your documents to a statutory declaration made by a person residing in Kenya. This declaration verifies that the person changing their name and the person on the submitted documents are the same individual.

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This is completed before a Commissioner for Oaths.

Register the Deed Poll

Once signed, the Deed Poll and supporting documents are submitted to the Registrar of Documents.

Upon approval, the registrar endorses the document with the words:

“Registered in accordance with the Registration of Documents (Change of Name) Regulations, 1967.”

Publish in the Kenya Gazette

Your new name must be published in the Kenya Gazette to make the change official and public.

After publication, the new name can legally be used in all records and transactions.

Once done, you can proudly use your new name in all official matters from IDs to bank records.

Registrar Can Reject Changes

The registrar has the authority to reject an application for a change of name if it fails to meet established naming guidelines.

According to the rules, a proposed name must contain at least one forename and one surname and must be pronounceable.

Names that include numbers, symbols, or punctuation marks will not be accepted.

The registrar may also reject names deemed vulgar, offensive, or blasphemous, as well as those that promote criminal activities, racial or religious hatred, or the use of controlled substances.

Names that ridicule individuals, groups, government institutions, or organizations, or that could mislead the public into believing the applicant holds an honorific or professional title such as “Sir,” “Doctor,” or “Professor” are prohibited.

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