Podcaster MWAFREEKA recounts visiting his father in jail at age 12 - “I Thought Jail Was a Rite of Passage”



Friday, October 3, 2025 - Iko Nini podcast host Makarios Ouma, popularly known as Mwafreeka, has shared deeply personal memories from his childhood, including the moment he realized how normalized prison was in his family during a revealing chat on Lessons at 30 with Dr. Ofweneke.

“I thought jail was a rite of passage,” he said, reflecting on how his father, uncle, younger brother, and cousin had all spent time behind bars.

At just 12 years old, Mwafreeka was sent to visit his father at Sotik prison while his older siblings were away at boarding school and his mother was busy hustling to make ends meet.

“At some point, my dad ended up in Sotik prison, and my mom used to send me to go and visit him at age 12.”

“At this time, my older brothers were in boarding school, and mom couldn’t go because she had to hustle,” he revealed.

Though he now recalls the experience with a touch of humour, Mwafreeka admitted, “I used to be afraid.”

His father, who struggled with alcoholism, was released in 1994 but sadly passed away two years later.

Known for his bold voice and impact in Kenya’s podcasting scene, Mwafreeka’s reflections offer a raw glimpse into how adversity shaped his worldview.

The Kenyan DAILY POST

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