For official purposes, she will go by Sarah Njoki Nyaga. “From tomorrow onwards, I’ll be known as Sarah Mtalii or Sarah Njoki Nyaga for official matters. Bloggers, please update your records; I am no longer Sarah Kabu,” she stated.
“Watu wa Embu, lazima nikuje homecoming; sasa mimi ni wenu. I still believe in marriage. Sasa hivi, I’m not ready to go back to the dating scene, but one day I will, and I’ll remarry,” she added.
Her decision sparked reactions online, with many Kenyans discussing the change. Here are reasons why some women keep their married names:
- Some women may feel that keeping their ex-husband’s last name helps avoid potential stigma or judgment associated with divorce.
- They may have an emotional attachment to the name.
- Some retain it for professional reasons.
- Others prefer not to go through the legal process of changing it.
- Some view the name as something they worked hard to earn.
- Others keep it for convenience purposes.
At Mpasho, we take a look at famous ex-wives who’ve decided to keep their surnames after divorce. They are below:
Melinda Gates
Melinda Gates, who grew up with the last name French, decided to take on her husband Bill Gates’ surname when they married.
The couple was married for over 25 years, and when they split, Melinda decided to keep her ex-husband’s surname.
Although she did not make any legal name changes, as indicated in divorce paperwork, she did publicly add her maiden name to her social media handles.
Kris Jenner
The matriarch of the Kardashian family has always kept her ex-husband’s surname. She attributed the decision to her daughters, Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner, whom she shares with Caitlyn.
“[There] happens to be two younger girls who have an amazing dad, and I think I’m going to stay right where I am,” she said during a July 2016 appearance on the Australian radio show KIIS 1065 Sydney. “[Changing my name] sounded good for a minute, but I went, ‘You just have to respect the relationship of the entire family.’”
La La Anthony
La La was married to former NBA star Carmelo Anthony from 2010 to 2021. She chose to keep his surname because of their son, Kiyan, whom they welcomed in 2007.
During a panel at Fanatics Fest in August 2024, La La shared that Kiyan has the potential to follow in his dad’s footsteps as a basketball star, and she wants to wear their shared name on her back when it’s on a pro jersey one day.
Ivana Trump
Donald Trump’s first wife, Ivana, grew up with the last name Zelníčková, but when they married, she became known as Ivana Trump.
Even after their divorce, Ivana chose to keep her ex-husband’s last name. Although the world recognized her by her famous surname, Ivana often chose not to include it in her business ventures.
In the early ’90s, she decided to name her fashion and fragrance company House of Ivana to prove she could succeed without her husband’s influence.
“I’d move five thousand bottles of perfume in an evening,” Ivana wrote in Raising Trump about selling her line on television.
“My sales record was $675,000 in one hour. If I didn’t sell $200,000 an hour, it was a disappointment. I absolutely had something to prove. I could earn a fabulous living on my own, using just my first name.”
Nicole Murphy
Nicole was married to Eddie Murphy from 1993 to 2006. During a July 2024 appearance on Comedy Hype, Nicole explained why she never had the desire to reinstate her maiden name after their divorce.
“Listen, I was married to that man for years. I earned my name. I deserve my name. I have five children with that name,” she said. “I didn’t see any harm in keeping my last name. It doesn’t matter.”
Nicole and Eddie share daughters Bria, born in 1989, Shayne, born in 1994, Zola, born in 1999, and Bella, born in 2002, and son Myles, born in 1992.
Andrea Kelly
Singer R. Kelly’s ex-wife, Andrea Kelly, recently shared in a media interview that she earned the name through “blood, sweat, and tears.”
The dancer and actress, born Andrea Kelly, appeared on the latest episode of “Reality With the King” and explained why she controversially chose to keep the R&B singer’s last name.
R. Kelly is currently serving a 30-year sentence in a federal facility for s** trafficking and an additional 20 years for child pornography and enticement convictions.
Despite her ex-husband’s legal troubles, Drea stands by her decision to retain his last name. The former couple shares three children: Robert Jr., 22; Jaah, 24; and Joann, 26.
by MAUREEN WARUINGE