Nairobi Governor has revealed that he might opt to adopt a Kikuyu name in a bid to endear himself to all the members of the community whom he says form a significant percentage of registered voters in Nairobi County.
Speaking in Ngara, Kidero said a section of the Kikuyu community are largely turned off when they hear some strange names, adding that he is willing to pursue such class of voters even if it meant changing his middle name Odhiambo to Kariuki.
“Some say my middle name Odhiambo needs to change to Kariuki for the Kikuyu people to elect me, let it be so. This is because when a certain name does not sound this way, some of you at times just switch off the networks,” Kidero stated. It is however unclear why the incumbent Kidero chose Kariuki, but a section of members from the said community disclose that it could be because the name is popular in Gikuyu households.
For now, the governor’s middle name is still Odhiambo, a Luo name meaning one who was born during evening hours.
However, Kidero’s choice of the Gikuyu name Kariuki appears to be much strategic from the fact that he currently faces numerous re-election issues.