I Was Forced To Enroll For Fatherhood Classes To Raise Kate’s Son. I Wasn’t Prepared To Be A Dad – Phil Karanja
Phil Karanja, the CEO of Philit Productions, offers a candid glimpse into his journey of unexpected fatherhood following his separation from Kate Actress over a month ago.
In an interview with his longtime friend, Judy Nyawira ‘Bi Mkurugenzi’, during the ‘Becoming CEO’ show, Karanja opens up about his parenting journey with his children, Leon Kamau and Karla Njeri. Admitting that he wasn’t prepared for fatherhood when he first became involved in Kate and Leon’s lives, Karanja shares how he enrolled in parenting classes to better understand his role as a dad.
“I’ve been a father for eight years… to a teenage son and a four-year-old daughter na the dynamics [of parenting both] are very different,” Phil said.
“When I became a dad, nilijiambia that the one thing that will be constant in my life is play and fun with my kids because if that is what kids remember when we’ve left this earth, then I want them to remember that they had fun with dad. And to date, on weekends and with Njeri you will find me somewhere fun and memorable.”
Reflecting on the stark contrast between raising his teenage son and his four-year-old daughter, Karanja recalls the overwhelming love and sense of responsibility he felt when he held his daughter for the first time.
Acknowledging the transformative impact of fatherhood, Karanja agrees with his fellow panelists that becoming a father often leads men to take fewer risks, both in life-threatening situations and financially, as their children become their top priority.
Emphasizing the importance of fun and play in his children’s lives, Karanja reveals that he prioritizes creating lasting memories with them, ensuring that weekends are filled with enjoyable activities.
Furthermore, Phil a discloses that he and his children regularly attend family therapy sessions, and he personally seeks therapy to inform his parenting decisions.
Expressing his commitment to his children’s happiness and well-being, Karanja underscores the significance of prioritizing health and happiness in life, encouraging his children to always choose their own happiness above all else.
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“I want them [children] to be happy and healthy, because even for me, those are the most important things in life. And I hope they will have learned that from me… that your health matters so take care of it and more than anything else be happy, sometimes you have to make some hard decisions for you to be happy but they should always choose their happiness first,” he emphasized.
Phil might also never have another baby.
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Despite his experiences of being present for the birth of his daughter, Phil declares that he has no immediate plans for further fatherhood, recognizing the challenges faced by many mothers in accessing quality healthcare during childbirth and expressing a desire to address this issue in the future.
“I was there in the delivery room, and when I saw our baby for the first time around 10-11 am, I couldn’t help but cry. Women are incredibly strong, and seeing what they endure during childbirth changed my perspective entirely,” he said.
“After witnessing the entire process, I made a decision that I am never going to impregnate another lady ever again. Why would I subject someone’s daughter to that ordeal again? No, I refuse to put any human being through such a challenging and life-threatening experience.
“I got to understand why the infant mortality rate in Africa is high… we could afford it so Mama Njeri had four people taking care of her [a gynaecologist, birthing assistant, paediatrician and paediatric nurse]. A lot of mothers can’t afford such care… I don’t know how or when but I’d like to do something about that one day,” he shared.
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