Keroche CEO Tabitha Karanja Changes Her Name as She Eyes Nakuru Senate Seat

Keroche Breweries CEO and founder Tabitha Mukami Karanja has changed her official name ahead of the August 9th elections.

Karanja, who is eyeing the Nakuru senatorial seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket, will now be known as Tabitha Karanja Keroche.

The 57-year-old entrepreneur and industrialist, in a sworn affidavit, said she will use the new name “for all purposes.”

Karanja’s new name was revealed through a Kenya Gazette notice number 4013 dated April 8th, 2022.

“Notice is given that by a deed poll dated February 15, 2022, duly executed and registered in the Registry of Documents at Nairobi as Presentation No. 2921, in Volume Dl, Folio 102/794, File No. MMXXII, by our client, Tabitha Karanja Keroche, of P.O. Box 6-20117, Naivasha in the Republic of Kenya, formerly known as Tabitha Mukami Mungai. She has formally and absolutely renounced and abandoned the use of her former name Tabitha Mukami Mungai, and in lieu thereof assumed and adopted the name Tabitha Karanja Keroche, for all purposes and authorises and requests all persons at all times to designate, describe and address her by her assumed name Tabitha Karanja Keroche only,” reads the notice.

The move is seen as part of her strategy to sell her name following her entry into elective politics this year.

Politicians eyeing various seats in the upcoming elections have been keen to change their official names to reflect their better-known identities.

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, who is seeking to retain his seat under the UDA party, recently changed his name from Edward Mutahi Kahiga to “Mwalimu Edward Mutahi Kahiga”.

Nairobi woman representative aspirant Wangui Ng’ang’a switched her official name to B. Ng’ang’a Wangui from Benadict Wangui Ng’ang’a. Hillary Kiprotich Sigei, who is vying for the Bomet senatorial seat, changed his identity to Wakili Hillary Kiprotich Sigei.

Other politicians who have added nicknames to their official identities in the past include former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi “Sonko”, Kiambu Senator Kimani “Wamatangi”, former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu “Babayao”, and Murang’a Governor Mwangi “Wa Iria.”