How men with female surnames are standing up to ridicule in Kenya
Many children in Kenya traditionally inherit their father's first name as their surname, but there are an increasing number of people who are taking their
Many children in Kenya traditionally inherit their father's first name as their surname, but there are an increasing number of people who are taking their mother's instead. This is particularly the case amongst the country's largest ethnic group, the Kikuyu - and has become a subject of debate and in some cases ridicule for the men with female surnames.
Girls and women who have their mother's names do not face the same censure - and often when they marry may opt to take their husband's first name as their surname. Some say the growing trend of men having female surnames reflects changing attitudes to women and their influence in what is a patriarchal society; others are critical of those who have been given - or in some cases opt to take - their mother's name.
It used to be rare to see men in prominent positions with a female surname, but now there are even several politicians who have them - like MP John Njũgũna Wanjikũ. Brought up by a single mother, he was first elected in 2021 and goes by the nickname "Ka-Wanjikũ", meaning child of Wanjikũ.
Some like Wanjikũ were given their female surname at birth, but others have chosen theirs to honour their mothers.
The BriefWire