Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi Adds New Name to Government Records

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has officially changed his legal name, adding “Mutali” to his existing identity through a formal deed poll process registered in Nairobi in January 2026.

The senator, formerly known as Godfrey Osotsi Atieno, executed a deed poll dated January 15, 2026, dropping his previous name and adopting Godfrey Osotsi Mutali Atieno as his new, permanent legal identity.

The change was registered at Nairobi’s Registry of Documents as Presentation No. 190, Volume DI, Folio 20/169, File No. MMXXVI, making it an official part of the government’s public record.

The addition of “Mutali” is the only modification made to his previously known name, meaning his existing identity remains largely intact, with just one significant addition inserted into the middle.

Osotsi’s name change was published in the Kenya Gazette Issue 128, no.31, released on February 21, alongside 35 other individuals and entities who also formally changed their names under Gazette Notices No.2533 through No.2567.

The gazette notices cover a broad range of name changes, including individual adults, minors whose guardians applied on their behalf, and even one company, Koko Networks Limited, which is currently under administration.

Process of Changing Official Names in Government Records in Kenya

In Kenya, changing a name in government records is not a simple administrative task; it is a formal, multi-step legal process that requires documentation, registration, and public notice through the Kenya Gazette.

To initiate the process, an adult aged 18 and above must execute a deed poll, a legal document signed before a Commissioner for Oaths, officially renouncing the old name and adopting the new one.

Supporting documents required include sworn affidavits from people who have known the applicant for at least five to ten years, a chief’s letter confirming identity, a birth certificate, a national ID, and a fingerprint report from the DCI.

Once the deed poll and documents are submitted to the Registrar of Documents, the name change is published in the Kenya Gazette, where it remains open to public objections for a period of 30 to 60 days.

If no objections are raised within the stipulated period, the individual will be required to update all personal and official records, including their national ID, passport, KRA PIN, bank accounts, driver’s licence and property documents, to reflect the change.

For minors below 18, a parent or legal guardian must initiate the name change, with both parents required to consent, and minors above 16 must also personally agree to the change being made.

Some documents, such as birth certificates, cannot be directly altered; instead, the new name is noted alongside the original, serving as a legal record that links both identities across official documentation.