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Every election cycle, the country witnesses political waves linked to a party, a coalition or a candidate. The waves are often a mix of ingredients that include popular slogans, names or songs aimed at capturing the imagination of the of voters.

This year’s election is not any different. Like before, voters have been inundated by all sorts of nicknames that politicians have attached to their official names in an effort to stand out of the crowded races.

They expect the monikers to resonate better with the voters.

Of the latest politicians to rope in a nickname into their campaigns is Nakuru Senator aspirant Tabitha Karanja.

The proprietor of Keroche Industries—a liquor firm based in Naivasha—has adopted the firm’s name, which will, henceforth, appear alongside her other names.

Keroche has gained popularity for its spirited competition with the dominant giant beer brewer East African Breweries Limited.

The company is presently locked in a battle with the Kenya Revenue Authority over tax arrears. It recently entered into a deal to settle the Sh957 million arrears in two years.

Karanja Keroche

Despite the troubles the company is facing, Karanja, has adopted her company’s name as part of her identity.

“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 authorities and requests all persons at all times to designate, describe and address her by her assumed name Tabitha Karanja Keroche only,” the gazette notice announcing her new name said. 

Like Keroche, other candidates have officially adopted their nicknames and expect them to appear on the ballot paper in the elections.

From Koti Moja in Uasin Gishu, The Equalizer in Kericho, Korokoro in Kakamega, Toto in Bomet, Mwalimu in Nyeri, Badilisha in Nyandarua, Jungle in Kiambu, Kawaya in Machakos to Wa Maai in Murang’a, the aspirants appear to be in an intense competition to adopt monikers that are associated with them.

For Jonathan Bii, who is now popularly known Koti Moja, he is riding on the nickname a competitor tried to use to soil his candidature early in the campaigns.

“We have accepted it and owned the name and we are happy it is resounding well with the ordinary people who identify themselves with our ideals,” Bii, who is seeking the UDA’s sponsorship to run for Uasin Gishu governor seat, told People Daily.

Habil Nanjendo, alias Korokoro, is vying for the Butere parliamentary seat on Amani National Congress ticket.

In Bomet, 24-year-old Linet Chepkorir has modeled her bid for the county woman representative around her alias “Toto” and hopes to win in the UDA primaries on Thursday.

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has also adopted the name Mwalimu hoping to attract more voters who know him by the name. 

The Equalizer

Kiambu governor hopeful Patrick Wainana has added Jungle to his official name. He will be facing off with Senator Kimani Wamatangi, another politician whose surname was initially an alias, for the UDA ticket. 

In Kericho, governor aspirant Rick Mutai likes being referred to as Equalizer.

In Nyandarua Moses Kiarie, aka Badilisha, is vying to be the county’s next governor. 

Others are Wairagu Wa Maai (of water) who is running for Murang’a governor seat on Democratic Party ticket, Kabete MP Githua Wamacukuru, Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka “Kawaya” and Roysambu MP aspirant Augustine Kamande “Mwafrika”.

They are following the footsteps of politicians including former governors Mike Sonko (initially Mike Mbuvi), Ferdinand Waititu “Baba Yao”, Wamatangi and Mwangi Wa Iria. The latter adopted the surname Wa Iria (of milk) in the 2013 General Election.

Currently, the process of changing one’s name is a long process which entails signing an affidavit and making an application to the registrar of persons.

However, a Bill before the National Assembly could in the future make it much easier for one to adopt a nickname.

For the August polls, however, this Bill has been overtaken by events as it requires one to change their name before the party primaries.

If the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2021, becomes law, politicians would in future not have to struggle to have their nicknames on the ballot paper.

Name recognition

They will only have to request the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to add the alias 21 days before party nominations.

The commission will have seven days to approve or reject the request. If it approves, it issues a certificate authorising the use of the name.

“The ultimate goal of an election is to ensure that the electorate chooses their preferred leaders in a free and fair environment. Name recognition thus becomes an important aspect of a free and fair election and should be enabled to the fullest extent,” the Bill says.

The bill was introduced in the Senate last year and the House passed it paving the way for its transmission to the National Assembly for concurrence.

It is sponsored by Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina and was recently introduced in the Assembly.