Why Mbavu Destroyer Was Separated from His Mother for Two Years After Birth

The man known to millions as ‘Mbavu the Destroyer’ is preparing for a new kind of fight. The viral sensation, famous for his comical boxing and "weka mawe" slogans, has revealed he is heading to university.

Speaking on the Over 1M Podcast with host Tony Mwirigi, the entertainer shared his plans to study Agricultural Engineering. It is a dream he has held since his days at Makongeni Secondary School, though poverty previously stood in his way.

A Childhood of Separation

Life for the self-proclaimed "lion" was not always about viral videos and million-dollar deals. Mbavu revealed a painful start to life. He did not see his mother for the first two years after he was born.

"I wasn’t able to see my mum for the first two years," he explained during the interview. His mother had been admitted to hospital shortly after his birth.

 During this time, he was raised by his sister and older siblings. He spent much of his infancy in a daycare centre, describing his early years as "dry" due to the lack of maternal presence.

The Road to 305 Marks

Education was a constant struggle. At St. Patrick Primary School, Mbavu and his family were often mocked for their poverty. Other children labelled them "ombaomba" (beggars). He recalled that he only wore a full school uniform and shoes for the first time after a well-wisher assisted his family.

In Class 7, he was forced to drop out for an entire term because he could not afford registration fees for his final exams. He spent those days working, using a handcart to fetch water for neighbours to raise money.

Eventually, his sister used 500 shillings from her own construction work to help him register.

Despite these hurdles, Mbavu excelled. He scored 305 marks in his primary school leaver exams.

From Security Guard to Viral Star

Before his rise to fame, Mbavu worked as a security guard for Lavington Security. He was stationed in the Kijabe area, often working exhausting night shifts. He would return home in the mornings to train and record the videos that would eventually change his life.

The "Weka Mawe" video, which showed him training with stones, went viral and turned the former guard into a millionaire almost overnight.

"Everything you do, put your parent first. Everything you do, put your family or parent first."

Mbavu says he is now "ready" to join university. He views his recent success not as a destination, but as the "bridge" that will allow him to finally complete his education and support his family.