Media personality Alex Mwakideu has sparked a heated online debate after making controversial remarks advising married men against doing household chores such as cooking and cleaning.
The outspoken media figure, known for his candid takes on relationships and marriage, ignited a storm on social media after a video of his remarks surfaced online.
Speaking during his morning show on Radio 47 on Friday, March 20, Alex Mwakideu appeared to discourage men from engaging in domestic duties, a stance that sharply divided opinion among Kenyans.
According to Alex Mwakideu, married men to avoid taking up roles traditionally associated with women in the home, bluntly warning them against participating in chores.
“As a man you should not dare to touch a bar soap at home and wash clothes at home, you want to bend down to the basin and wash yet you have a wife?” He quipped.
It is important to note that this, the radio host said during his show with Emmanuel Mwashumbe on their breakfast show on Radio 47.
“I should not see you bending near a basin. Even washing the dishes. Even if I love my wife washing the dishes? You are washing a sufuria? If she is sick, she can call her younger sister; they plan things. She also has cousins. As Africans, we help each other,” he said.
“This is Africa. I do not refuse to show her that I love her but I can’t do chores. Never ever unless I am having fun. A man washing clothes, stop that. It’s a no; you cannot reduce yourself that much as a man. Love your man, wash his clothes, dishes and cook for him. Unless he sees that you are both alone at home and he does it for fun,” he added.
Alex Mwakideu Angers Netizens With His Advice
The remarks, delivered in his usual humorous yet provocative style, quickly went viral, drawing both criticism and support from netizens.
While some interpreted his comments as light-hearted banter or satire, others viewed them as reinforcing outdated gender stereotypes.
Mwakideu, a veteran broadcaster and family man, has often spoken publicly about marriage dynamics and his personal life.
The Radio 47 presenter has previously described himself as a devoted husband and father of three daughters, emphasising structure, discipline, and defined roles within the household.
His traditional views on relationships are not new.
In past interviews, he has highlighted the importance of clear responsibilities between partners and even revealed that he and his wife maintain transparency in finances through a joint bank account, an approach he believes strengthens trust in marriage.
Netizens React
However, his latest sentiments on domestic roles have reignited conversations around evolving gender expectations in modern Kenyan households.
Critics argue that such views undermine the idea of shared responsibility in marriage, especially in an era where many couples embrace equality in both professional and domestic spaces.
On social media platforms, reactions ranged from amusement to outright condemnation.
Some users defended the radio host, suggesting his comments were taken out of context or intended for entertainment.
Others insisted that influential figures like him should promote progressive values, particularly given their wide audience reach.
Here are some comments from netizens:
“Ati mwanaume hafai kuosha vyombo? 😂 Hii ni 2026 boss, not 1960!”
“This mentality is exactly why some marriages are struggling. Partnership means helping each other, not assigning roles like it’s a contract.”
“People are taking him too seriously. Mwakideu amesema vitu mingi before for entertainment. Relax guys 😅”
“So if your wife is tired or sick, you just sit and watch? That’s not leadership, that’s laziness.”
“Kuna truth kidogo hapo. Our culture ilikuwa na roles clear. Saa hii watu wanachanganya kila kitu.”
“Men who cook and clean are the real MVPs 👏🏽 wanawake wanapenda hiyo sana by the way.”
“This is why toxic masculinity still exists. Simple chores zinageuzwa kuwa ego issue.”
“Mimi nitaosha vyombo, nitapika na bado nitaendelea kuwa mwanaume 💪🏽 nothing changes.”
“He said it jokingly lakini Wakenya wameamua kuchoma 😂 classic social media outrage.”
“Imagine telling your daughters this kind of advice… what example are you setting?”
“If helping your wife is ‘reducing yourself’, then your definition of a man is very questionable.”
“Wasee wengi wanakaa kusema ukweli lakini hawawezi admit. Kuna households bado zinafuata hiyo system.”
“Hii ni content tu ya radio, controversy equals views. Mission accomplished.”
“Modern relationships are about teamwork. Hizi advice za ‘don’t touch soap’ zimepitwa na wakati.”
“Lakini kusema ukweli, context matters. Maybe alikuwa ana-target specific type of audience.”
The debate also reflects a broader societal shift, where younger generations increasingly challenge traditional norms surrounding marriage and household roles.
In contrast, voices like Mwakideu’s continue to represent a more conservative perspective rooted in cultural expectations.
Despite the backlash, Mwakideu has built a reputation for unapologetically sharing his views, often stirring public discourse.
Whether his comments were meant as humor or serious advice, they have once again placed him at the center of a national conversation on gender roles, marriage, and modern relationships.
As the online debate rages on, one thing remains clear, Mwakideu’s words have struck a nerve, proving the power of celebrity influence in shaping, challenging, and sometimes polarizing public opinion.
FOLLOW NAIROBI NEWS ON FACEBOOK
