Wachira

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Wachira (frequently also spelt as "Wacira" or "Wachiira" depending on region) is a male name among the Kikuyu, also called Gikuyu, and related Bantu peoples of Kenya. The name is commonest in the northern districts of Kikuyuland. It is a composite of "wa" and "chira". "Wa" means "of/from" not unlike 'de' in Spanish/French. "Wa" can also denote "son of/daughter of" or "one who does" or "one who belongs to". "Chira" (also spelt as "cira" or "chiira") means a court case, a tribunal hearing or a trial. "Wachira" was therefore either one who settled disputes or acted on behalf of those who had disputes. It could also mean a jury person, even a judge. It is therefore a name of some reverence. In Nyeri and Kirinyaga it is often used as the default name given to first-born sons (who custom dictates be named after the paternal grandfather) as a recognition of the customary role of grandfathers as decision makers in their extended family.

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