Joy as Kenyan mothers name newborns after Pope Francis

Mrs Alice Ngetich (right) congratulate her daughter Lindah Tanui after she delivered a baby boy named Francisco Mario at Nakuru Nursing Home maternity. [PHOTO: BONIFACE THUKU]

Babies born yesterday at Kakamega County Referral Hospital have been named after the Pope who is in Kenya for a visit.

The hospital maternity ward recorded 13 newborns after Shepherd One touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Excited mothers said they had decided to name their babies after the Pope to draw from the character of the Catholic head who is visiting Africa for the first time.

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.

SIGN OF LOVE

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.

And 29 babies were born at the Coast General Hospital after midnight with, a few mothers naming 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.

Twenty two babies were born at Homa Bay County Hospital after Pope Francis landed in the country.

Most of the mothers attributed their safe delivery to the presence of the Pope.

At Othaya District Hospital, a 19-year-old mother could not hide her joy after she delivered, a few hours after the arrival of Pope Francis.

Grace Muthoni said she decided to name her boy Francis Waweru in honour of the visiting Pope.

At the Meru Level Five Hospital, three mothers gave birth to boys.

All the three said in interviews that they would consider naming their children in honour of the Pope but their husbands had the final say on the matter.

— Reports by Jackiline Inyanji, Boaz Kipngenoh, Linah Benyawa, Nderitu Gichure