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A boy needs his father: Mwalimu Rachel explains importance of father-son bond
19th May, 2026 04:00 PM
Radio presenter Mwalimu Rachel has emphasised the importance of a father’s presence in a boy’s upbringing, noting that a strong father-son bond plays a key role in shaping discipline, identity, and emotional stability.
Speaking during an interview with media personality Alex Mwakideu on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, she said it is important for boys to spend as much time as possible with their fathers, as long as the father is not abusive and is a responsible parent.
“A boy needs his father, I hope women understand when I say this,as long as he is not an abusive father and is a good parent to that child, it is very important for the boy to spend as much time with the father,” Rachel said.
She further argued that male presence is crucial in a boy’s development, stressing that in cases where the biological father is absent, other male figures such as uncles or grandfathers should step in to provide guidance and mentorship.
“I am a strong believer that a man is the only one to raise a boy; sisi tutapambana na utachoka, utazeeka kabla miaka yako, utakuwa bitter, utakasirika, and if it is not the father, other father figures, the uncles or the grandfather, there has to be that male presence in the boy’s life,” she added.
Raising her son
The radio presenter has been vocal about her co-parenting; earlier she shared that she and her ex-partner have established a co-parenting arrangement where their son spends most of the time with his father, and she only gets to take him on weekends.
“We co-parent. It’s not easy now that he’s almost a teenager. Anaelekea puberty. What I did was I now took him to his da aishi naye. Now I take him during the weekends. I wonder why women find this hard. Unasaidiwa kazi, especially if this is a responsible man,” she shared.
“It also depends on the person, yule ambaye unamtrust hataleta tu wanawake na haitakuwa weird situation. We had a conversation and said you know what, he needs his father more. He’s being taught how to be a man, how to talk to girls, and how to dress and so far imekuwa results poa. Amekacha ka ukora. Siku hizi nikimuambia kitu anafanya.”
