Leo Wamuthende has defended his name change, saying it was tied to politics and he has no regrets about it. The Mbeere North MP stressed in a recent statement that the move had nothing to do with any scandal or hiding from past issues. He pointed out he remains the same person, with the same national ID number, and followed legal steps fully.
The clarification came as questions lingered after Wamuthende, formerly known as Leonard Muriuki Njeru, updated his name through a deed poll gazetted in September 2025.
He added “Leo Wa Muthende” while keeping Njeru. Some online posts linked the timing to an old Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission probe into a KSh 643 million oxygen plant tender at Kenyatta National Hospital. Reports from late 2025 suggested EACC had recommended charges against a Leonard Muriuki Njeru linked to the deal. Wamuthende dismissed those ties outright.
In his words, shared publicly, “Changing my name was related to politics and I am happy I did. You cannot change your name because of a project. I am still the same person and my ID number is the same. It has nothing to do with any scandal.” He framed it as a personal and political choice, perhaps to build a stronger local brand in Mbeere North, where “Wamuthende” connects to family roots in the area.
The name issue gained attention during the November 2025 by-election. Wamuthende, running on a UDA ticket, won the seat vacated when the previous MP joined Cabinet. He beat rivals with promises of continuing development projects like roads and water. Supporters chanted his new name on the campaign trail, turning it into a rally cry.
But opponents raised flags. Two separate court petitions in Embu High Court challenge his win, arguing the name change created discrepancies. One claims it left him off the voters’ roll under the new name, breaching rules that candidates must be registered voters.
Another says differences between ballot papers and voter records confused the process. Wamuthende’s team calls these pre-election matters already settled legally, and they’ve asked the court to dismiss the cases.
He addressed the controversy directly before the vote too, posting that all his documents were in order and compliant with IEBC requirements. The electoral body cleared him to run, and he was sworn in shortly after winning.
Name changes aren’t rare in Kenyan politics. Some leaders adopt nicknames or tribal ties for appeal. Here, it stirred debate because of the tender allegations circulating online. Wamuthende has not faced charges over that matter, and he insists the change was straightforward politics, not evasion.
Locals in Mbeere North seem focused more on delivery now. The area needs better infrastructure and bursaries, issues he campaigned on. Court hearings continue, with pre-trials already held. Whatever the outcome, Wamuthende says he’s the same man serving the constituency.
This kind of back-and-forth shows how personal details get scrutinized in elections. Voters want transparency, but legal processes handle formal challenges. For now, the MP stands by his decision and moves forward with parliamentary work.
