Businessman Kennedy Rapudo has courageously opened up about his deeply emotional journey through grief and loss, sharing how his tumultuous past has shaped the man, father, and partner he is today.
As a father of three, Rapudo revealed how growing up without a father and losing key family members profoundly impacted his life and his outlook on family.
Growing Up Without a Father
In an emotional conversation with Dr. Ofweneke, Rapudo recalled the painful moment when his parents separated when he was just six years old, leaving him with a strained relationship with his father.
He opened up about the psychological toll of attending school events without his dad by his side.
“If you’re a boy, you look up to your father so much when in school. Then when your parents come, and you don’t see your dad while other kids do, it really messes with your mind,” he admitted, explaining how this absence affected him deeply until he was in upper primary.
A Bittersweet Reunion
Though Kennedy Rapudo eventually reconnected with his father in high school after his mother’s passing, the reunion was emotionally charged and full of unresolved pain.
“The separation happened when I was six years old, and then I grew up without him. We later on met when I was in high school, and to be honest, I felt betrayed,” Rapudo confessed.
He struggled to forgive his father, feeling the weight of years without his presence. “He could have looked for me, but he never did.”
Sadly, their time together was brief. His father tragically took his own life shortly after their reunion.
“We met briefly for like a few days, but I went back to school. Then, I found out he had passed… I never attended the funeral, but later visited the grave.
Adding, “I didn’t grieve or cry because I felt there was nothing to grieve about,” he shared, his voice heavy with the unresolved emotions of their lost time.
Coping with Loss and Family Tragedy
While Rapudo learned to cope with the deaths of his parents, it was the passing of his brother that truly broke him.
“I’m someone who’s learned to cope with pain… but when my brother died, that’s when it all hit me,” he explained, reflecting on how the loss of his brother was the hardest of all.
“For my brother, it was very, very difficult to stay intact, and that’s when I opened up and accepted the pain that had been lingering for so long.”
Today, Rapudo’s only surviving maternal relative is his elder sister, whom he has been separated from since their mother’s death.
Although they keep in touch, Rapudo’s connection with his paternal relatives remains distant.
Life Lessons and Fatherhood
Despite the profound grief and hardship, Rapudo revealed that his painful past has motivated him to work harder and provide a better life for his children.
“I’ve learned to work hard. I know what poverty is, and I know what wealth is. I’ve lived both sides,” he said, emphasizing how his experiences have fueled his drive to build a better future.
Perhaps the most powerful lesson he’s taken from his tumultuous journey is the importance of being present for his children—something he longed for as a boy.
“One thing I learned is that I will always try to be present in the lives of my children. No matter what happens, whether we separate or not, I will always be there. I know what an absent father really means in a child’s life,” he declared.
Building a Blended Family with Amber Ray
Today, Kennedy Rapudo is in a relationship with businesswoman Faith Makau, better known as Amber Ray. Together, they’ve formed a blended family of four children—one from Amber’s previous marriage, two from Rapudo’s past relationships, and one they share together.
Their commitment to creating a stable and loving home is a powerful testament to Rapudo’s resolve to break the cycle of absentee fatherhood and offer his children the love, stability, and presence he missed as a child.
This is his promise: to be the father he always wished for, and to ensure his children feel loved and valued every single day.
