This archive report was first published on 7 November 2019.
Changing a child's name in Kenya can be a straightforward process, but it's essential to understand the procedure and the required documents.
According to the Births and Deaths Registration Act, a child's name can be changed within two years from the date of registration. To do this, a parent or legal guardian must pay the required fee to the Registrar of Births and provide any necessary evidence to support the child's new name.
However, if the child is above two years old, a deed poll process must be followed. A deed poll is a standard application provided for in the Registration of Documents (Change of Name) Regulations. For minors, the relevant form is 'Form 4 A,' which must be filled and signed on their behalf by their parent or legal guardian and a witness.
For minors above the age of sixteen, they must give their consent in the prescribed form, 'Form 4,' and it must be witnessed by an Advocate. The deed poll must be accompanied by the child's birth certificate and a statutory declaration in the prescribed form. The person swearing the statutory declaration must be resident in Kenya and must know the child.
Once the deed poll is submitted, the documents are presented to the Registrar of Documents, where they are registered and then published in the Kenya Gazette. It's only after publishing that the name change comes into effect. However, after this, it's necessary to apply for a new birth certificate to reflect the child's new names.
Eric Mukoya, the Executive Director of the Legal Resources Foundation Trust, offers expert advice on legal matters. If you have a legal problem you'd like addressed, please email your queries to him.
