‘I regret’ – King Kaka opens up about missing late father’s final call
By Valerian Khakayi, April 3, 2026Kenyan rapper and storyteller Kennedy Ombima, widely known as King Kaka, has opened up about one of the most painful memories from his childhood, the day he lost his father, and the call he never answered in time.
Speaking candidly with media personality Dr Ofweneke in an episode aired on Thursday, April 2, 2026, about his past, the artiste revealed that his parents had separated when he was still in nursery school, leaving his mother to raise him and his two brothers. Years later, when he was in Class Seven, his father fell seriously ill.
“My dad died when I was in class seven,” King Kaka disclosed.
According to King Kaka, his mother urged them to return and help take care of him. His father had already been admitted to the hospital by that point.
While there, he sent word asking to see his son, a request that would later weigh heavily on the rapper’s heart.
“My mum and dad waliseparate nikiwa nursey school, mama yangu akatuchukuwa all the three boys akaenda na wao,” he added.
“So my dad fell sick, then mamangu akasema turudi ku take care of him, but that time alikuwa amepelekwa hospitali akiwa huko akatumana nikasema nitaenda kesho kumbe hiyo ndio ilikuwa the day he was dying.“
News about his father’s death
The talented rapper went on to say that when he returned home later that evening, the atmosphere had already changed.
He found his mother and neighbours gathered, and he instantly sensed something was wrong. Moments later, he says, his mother confirmed his worst fear.
“Nilirudi nyumbani jioni kurudi nikapata mama na wamama wengine majirani nikajua tu, alafu mama akaniambia, ‘your dad has died,’ that is how I received the news,” King Kaka narrated.
Impact of the loss
At the time, the loss did not fully sink in. King Kaka explained that he had never experienced the death of someone so close before, making it difficult to process the moment immediately.
He added that the impact came later in a deeply personal and creative way.
“Haikunihit, at that time, juu hakukuwa na a very close death since I was born, that was the closest,” he stated.
“Vile nilijua iliniaffect, I went and took a book and wrote like 17 pages napiga tu story alafu nikamchora huko mwisho.”
Regret
Additionally, the Umechange hitmaker noted that as he grew older, the memory of that missed moment stayed with him, eventually inspiring his music.
Reflecting on his song dubbed The Last Call, King Kaka said that it was about the unanswered request from his late father.
“When I grew up, I did a song named the last call, Inamaanisha aliniita niende na sikuenda so lnilikuwa nashanga anataka kuniambia nini,” he added.
In addition, the rapper admits that the regret has never fully gone away, adding that he tries to find peace in the fact that he was still young at the time.
“I wish ningeenda; that is one of the things I always regret, but I can blame it on the fact that I was young,” King Kaka stated.
“Sahizi nimeraise the family to a certain level na wish tu angekuwa around aone aligive birth to a king.“