GERRY

Professional Mediator | Criminologist | Trainee Lawyer | Manchester United and football enthusiast.

[The Omae Omae @AfricanJunta]

Nisomee CATs ama niingie sebuleni kama wenzangu jamani.

[Miracle Mudeyi @MiracleMudeyi]

Kimeumana huku Kortini

[Bwire Olayo⚖️ @mush3rekha]

This is how judgements are supposed to be. You know the other party has lost the case after reading the first sentence only. 🤣

[Commodore. @TheWavyRedd]

2026/27.

[Manchester United @ManUtd]

BRUNO FERNANDES EQUALS THE PREMIER LEAGUE ASSIST RECORD.

[Mario Nawfal @MarioNawfal]

🇮🇹 San Siro's towers in Milan aren't rotating.

But when crowds descend the stadium’s helical ramps, added for the 1990 World Cup, that’s what it looks like.

[Nelson Havi SC @NelsonHavi]

President William Ruto, revoke the nomination of Karen Nyamu to the Senate. There are more deserving women who can occupy that office.

[Max Juma @MaxJumaEsq]

Practical Step-by-Step Process on How to Legally Change Your Name -as it is actually done in Kenya.

There are two primary paths for a name change:

1. Change due to Marriage: This process is generally simpler, using your marriage certificate as the primary supporting document.

2. General Change of Name: This applies to all other reasons (e.g., disliking your name, religious conversion, divorce, correcting spelling errors). This path requires the full Deed Poll process detailed below.

The legal basis arises from the common law right to change one's name, implemented in Kenya through the Registration of Documents Act (Chapter 285) and the Registration of Documents (Change of Name) Regulations, and also administrative practice through the Registrar of Persons.

1. The First Step

You must clearly decide on the exact new name you wish to adopt.

The law allows a person to change their name, provided the name:
a. is not intended to defraud or evade legal obligations.
b. is not obscene, offensive, or misleading.
does not falsely imply titles such as Doctor, Judge, Chief, etc., unless lawfully held.

2. Prepare a Deed Poll

The change of name is formalised through a Deed Poll.

A Deed Poll is a legal document by which a person:
Abandons their former name and adopts a new name for all purposes.

The Deed Poll must contain:
a. The current name
b. The new name
c. Date of birth
d. Address
e. National ID number
f. A declaration abandoning the old name

The deed poll is signed by the applicant and witnessed, usually by an Advocate, Commissioner for Oaths, or Notary Public.

Meaning that this document can only be prepared by an advocate of the High Court of Kenya.

3. Swearing Affidavits:

You will swear an affidavit before a Commissioner for Oaths (usually a lawyer), explaining your reasons for the name change.

You will also need to get two witnesses who will swear their own affidavits, confirming they have known you for at least 10 years.

4. Attach Supporting Documents

The following documents are typically required:

a. Copy of National Identity Card
b. Copy of Birth Certificate
c. Passport-sized photographs
d. In some cases, fingerprints (Form 23) from the Registrar of Persons (rarely).
e. If the applicant is a minor, the parents or legal guardian must execute the Deed Poll.

5. Registration of the Deed Poll

Your lawyer will then compile all the documents and submit them to the Registrar. The submission package typically includes:

1. The duly executed and witnessed Deed Poll.
2. Your sworn affidavit.
3. The affidavits from your two witnesses.
4. The original letter from your area chief.
5. The original fingerprint report from the NRB.
6. Copies of your ID card and birth certificate.
7. The requisite registration and stamp duty fees (your lawyer will advise on the exact amounts).

The Registrar will review the documents. If everything is in order, they will register the Deed Poll by endorsing it with the words.

6. Publication in the Kenya Gazette

After registration, the Deed Poll must be published in the Kenya Gazette.

This is a crucial step because the Gazette Notice serves to notify the public and government institutions of the change of name.

The advocate normally:
a. Drafts a Gazette Notice
b. Submits it to the Government Printer
c. Pays the gazettement fee

Once published, the change of name becomes publicly recognized.

7. Obtain Copies of the Gazette Notice

After publication, the applicant obtains:

1. A copy of the Gazette Notice
2. A certified copy of the Deed Poll

These documents will be required when updating other records.

8. Update Identification Documents

The applicant must then update all official records.

For National Identity Card
Apply for replacement at the Registrar of Persons using:
1. Gazette Notice
2. Deed Poll
3. Original ID
A new ID reflecting the new name will be issued

For Passport Passport
Apply at the Directorate of Immigration Services, present the New ID, Deed Poll and Gazette Notice.

For KRA PIN
Update the name through the iTax portal using the Gazette Notice.

For Bank Accounts
Present: Gazette Notice, New ID, Deed Poll. The bank will update records.

For Academic Certificates
Most institutions will require you to present: Gazette Notice, Deed Poll, and Affidavit explaining the change
Some institutions will only issue a confirmation letter rather than reprint certificates.

For Married Women
A married woman may change her surname by simply presenting:
1. Marriage certificate,
2. ID
However, if she wants a completely different name, a Deed Poll is still required.

For Divorced Persons
After divorce, one may revert to their maiden name through:
Divorce decree,
Deed Poll (recommended for clarity)

For minors
Both parents must consent
Court orders may be required if parents disagree

Waiting Period: The name change is advertised in the Gazette for a period of 60 days. This window allows for any objections to be raised. After this period, if there are no objections, the change is considered final and binding. The whole process may take around 2-3 months.

[The Rose of Sharon @mwanawaingo]

Kuna intern hapa anaenda kula 20k kwa hii kazi yote

[Peter Wanyama @pwanyama]

Away from the LSK campaigns let me offer a piece of advise to young lawyers.

When you set up a law firm, it not easy to get clients because it takes time for people to know, trust, and hire you. But the best way to get known is to push the hard way. Simply pick up a case and demonstrate your competence, grasp of the law, tactics, and prowess. Remember this -whenever you do well in a case you will most certainly get a positive recommendation including from the opposite party ! A client begets client !

How do you get clients ? Simple. Go to Kibera, Milimani, or Madaraka law courts. Dress well. Sit through the proceedings. Be inquisitorial, and aggressive. Somehow there will be this person who will show up confused and clearly needing legal services. This is where you show yourself up. You will earn not less than Kshs 20,000 in day. Tag among seniors, a mentor in cases. Create trust. Lay basis for a brief. Work hard when you get one. Get results. Not explanations or excuses. Develop rapport with court clerks etc. Be nice to them in the private settings. Court clerks are key assets and complement lawyers.

This is a hustle every lawyer must go through when setting up own practice one or two years after admission. I went throught it. Most probably you will go throw it as well. The path to the top is not well paved. You must make it yourself. I have posted this because I have read about folks who are frustrated because of non-employment. For lawyers, it is a difficult ball game. You can never get broke. Next time, I will share tips to employed young lawyers on how to ride on your bosses cases to make some buck. Lawfully.

By the way, the top lawyers that you see on TV etc do serious lobbying for work except that they target rich folks. They have networks with reporters who cover them in the press as a strategy of dominance. Everyone believes they are good lawyers. In the philosophy of perception, this matters. But at base, are all good lawyers. The only difference- they have shifted away from the comfort zones.

Peter Wanyama, PMO
Jan 2026.

[𝔗𝔬𝔫𝔶4ℜ𝔢𝔞𝔩 @Tony4Real___]

That period in secondary school when you came too early and you connect with nature for a while before the loud people arrive>>>

[Alfred Muyaaka @MuyaakaAlfred]

“ADR is nolonger the future, it’s the present, young lawyers should consider mastering #ADR as soon as yesterday “ __ @ssensikombi @CIArb_Uganda .

[GERRY @WopataG]

@UtdBloke_ Chicharito

[GERRY @WopataG]

@ed_gera8 Moises*

[Silver Fox 🦊 @livin_omanga]

I really love Law... hope it loves me back and rewards me big time

[𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗝𝗔 @iamjoseh_]

Saa hii Uhuru Kenyatta angekuwa ameamka na hangover ata hajui nini inaendelea huko drama festival. His biggest worry at the moment would be how to get a glass of water and maramoja to relieve pain in his head.

[Pinkiescent 🎀 @Pinkkiescent]

Me accepting a 15k salary after spending 1.5 million on my degree

[Robert Greene @RobertGreene]

Concentrate on a single goal, a single task, and beat it into submission.

[𝔇𝔢sᴇʀᴛ ℜ𝔞𝔱 @robkm__]

so unafanya Upper Hill pia?
20k ama 15k?
Kazi ni mob.?
Rongai side gani?

[steve Biko osur @wuodosur]

The right to choose must be guided. A 14 year old child has got very little capacity to do with career choice. Is this not that age when they all after KCPE want to be neurosurgeons, robotics, and mechatronic Engineers? Think.