Former Kenyan television journalist Esther Arunga has officially changed her name, dropping the Timberlake surname she adopted after marrying Quincy Timberlake in 2010. According to a notice published in the Kenya Gazette, Arunga has renounced and abandoned the name Esther Adongo Timberlake and adopted Esther Adongo Arunga for all purposes. The change was formalised through a deed poll dated October 2, 2026.
The name change was registered at the Registry of Documents in Nairobi under Presentation No. 64, Volume D1, Folio 918/3321, File No. MMXXVI. The notice, issued by LAK Advocates on behalf of Arunga, requests that members of the public identify and address her exclusively by her adopted name. Arunga had previously worked at Capital FM and KTN before becoming widely known by the surname Timberlake.
Arunga's decision to drop the Timberlake surname comes after a series of high-profile events. In 2010, she was involved in plans to establish the PlaCenta Party alongside Timberlake and musician Joseph Hellon, founder of the Finger of God Church, which she had joined in 2009. She resigned from KTN on the day the party’s formation plans were announced.
The couple later moved to Australia, where their family came into the public spotlight following the death of their three-year-old son, Sinclair, in June 2014. In 2019, Arunga pleaded guilty to being an accessory to an offence and was sentenced to 10 months in prison before being released on parole. Timberlake later pleaded guilty to manslaughter in September 2023 and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
The Kenya Gazette notice does not provide a reason for Arunga’s decision to drop the Timberlake surname. However, it marks a significant change for the former journalist, who had been known by the surname for over a decade. Arunga's name change is now official, and she will be referred to as Esther Adongo Arunga in all official documents.
Esther Arunga's past has been marked by both professional and personal challenges. She had a notable career in Kenyan journalism before her marriage to Quincy Timberlake and subsequent move to Australia. The couple's experiences, including the loss of their child and Timberlake's conviction, have been well-documented.
The name change takes effect immediately, and Arunga will begin using her new name in all aspects of her life. This change may signal a new chapter for Arunga, who has kept a relatively low public profile in recent years. The Gazette notice serves as formal notification of the change, which is now part of the public record.
Key points
- Esther Arunga has officially dropped the Timberlake surname and reverted to her former name, Esther Adongo Arunga.
- The name change was formalised through a deed poll dated October 2, 2026, and registered in the Kenya Gazette.
- Arunga had adopted the Timberlake surname after marrying Quincy Timberlake in 2010.
