Esther Arunga officially drops Timberlake surname
Former Kenyan television journalist Esther Arunga has officially changed her name back to Esther Adongo Arunga, dropping the Timberlake surname. The change was formalized through a deed poll published in the Kenya Gazette.
Why it matters
The name change marks a significant personal step for a public figure involved in a high-profile legal case in Australia.
Former Kenyan television journalist Esther Arunga has officially dropped the Timberlake surname and reverted to her former name, Esther Adongo Arunga, following a formal name change published in the Kenya Gazette.
In Gazette Notice No. 16203, Arunga states that she has renounced and abandoned the name Esther Adongo Timberlake and adopted Esther Adongo Arunga for all purposes. The notice also requests members of the public to identify and address her exclusively by her adopted name.
According to the notice issued by LAK Advocates on behalf of Arunga, the change was formalised through a deed poll dated October 2, 2026, and registered at the Registry of Documents in Nairobi under Presentation No. 64, Volume D1, Folio 918/3321, File No. MMXXVI.
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