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Maina Kageni sends prayers to Alex Mwakideu after broadcaster reveals he has hearing problem
10th August, 2026 11:51 AM
Veteran radio presenter Maina Kageni has rallied Kenyans to watch a documentary by fellow broadcaster Alex Mwakideu after he publicly opened up about his battle with progressive and irreversible hearing loss.
In a post shared on X on Monday, August 10, 2026, Kageni expressed support for Mwakideu and asked his followers to take time to watch the documentary titled Hear Me Clearly, in which the broadcaster opens up about the condition and the impact it has had on his life.
“Guys, please take a moment to watch this. It is called ‘Hear Me Clearly’, Kageni wrote.
Maina further reassured the media personality that he would not face the journey alone, promising that they would rally behind him and praying that all would go well.
“Mr Alex Mwakideu … you are in our thoughts and prayers,” he added.
Kageni’s message came after Mwakideu used the documentary to speak publicly about his hearing loss, giving the public a glimpse into a health challenge he has been dealing with after more than two decades in the broadcasting and entertainment industry.
In it, he reveals that he has been diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, a form of hearing loss that results from damage to the inner ear or the nerves responsible for transmitting sound to the brain.
Medical specialists have determined that he has lost approximately 45 to 50 per cent of hearing in his left ear.
The broadcaster has linked the deterioration to years of working in environments where loud sound was a constant feature of his professional life.
His career has exposed him to loud music, studio environments, heavy use of headphones and entertainment venues, circumstances he now believes contributed to the damage to his hearing.
The problem became increasingly noticeable in his personal life when he struggled to follow conversations with members of his family.
Mwakideu also noticed that he needed to turn up the volume when watching television, while ordinary spoken words became increasingly difficult to pick up.
At some point, even simple daily activities became occasions where he had to concentrate intensely on what people were saying.
The experience has given him a different perspective on hearing, particularly the importance of being able to participate naturally in conversations without constantly asking people to repeat themselves.
The condition has also forced him to adapt to a new reality in a profession where listening and communicating clearly are central to the job.
Author
Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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