Photo: Kenyan mothers name newborns after Pope Francis

Following the visit of Pope Francis to Kenya,1 3 babies born yesterday, November 26, at Kakamega County Referral Hospital, were named after him. Some of the names includes Francisca, Francis, Pope Devin, Pope Francis, Fransisco, Pope Wambua.


According to Standard Digital News, the hospital maternity ward has recorded 13 newborns since the Pope's arrival. The happy mothers said they had decided to name their babies after the Pope to draw from the character of the Catholic Pontif Immaculate Katiechi delivered her baby boy at 1am and immediately named the child Pope Devin, but said was considering registering the baby as Pope Francis.

Another baby boy was delivered at Nakuru Nursing Home a few hours after the Pope’s arrival was also named Francis. Linda Tanui, the baby’s mother, said her sister had suggested that the newborn be named after the Pope.

A nun belonging to a Catholic family from Mogotio in Baringo County had suggested that the new member be named Fransisco Mario, which is the other name of the Pontiff. Alice Ng’etich, the grandmother of the newborn, said the coincidence is a sign of God’s love for the family, which is still recovering from the loss of one of her children.


At Coast General Hospital, 29 babies were born after midnight and a few mothers named their children after the Pope. Mercy Wambua, a resident of Tudor, named her baby Pope Wambua. Another mother Betty Murende, who is a devoted Catholic, named her daughter Francisca out of respect for the visiting Pope.