Award-winning actor Melvin Alusa is currently turning the lens on his personal life through a new reality series, House of Alusa.
Speaking on Kiss100 FM with hosts Cyd Wambui and Jeremy Wahome, the father of eight revealed in detail the inspiration behind this family reality series.
Inspiring a New Generation of Fathers
He revealed that he wants to challenge the negative ways men are often portrayed in society. He noted that fathers are frequently shown through the lens of "toxic masculinity" or dismissed as "deadbeats".
“Anywhere I go, I don’t shy away from introducing myself as a father of 7. And the question has always been, how do you do it, how do you manage it,” Alusa said.
He decided that documenting his unique situation could provide a different narrative for Kenyan families.
“I looked at my situation and realized the number and situation are unique, so why not put it out there and document it in the hope to inspire.”
The Accidental Leading Man
Despite his success, Alusa’s entry into professional performance was entirely unplanned. During the interview, he admitted that he did not set out to study film or pursue acting as a career. Instead, his journey began with a romantic interest.
“I was chasing a girl and then eventually, you know, I bumped into it,” Alusa revealed. He had used acting to get out of trouble as a child, but he did not see it as a vocation. A friend invited him to an audition for a musical because Alusa could sing.
The audition took place at All Saints Cathedral in 2005. Alusa was honest about his motivations at the time.
“But my intention was to get her,” he said, referring to the girl he was pursuing. He ended up securing an acting part alongside Johnson Mwakazi, which launched his professional career.
The Reality of Solo Parenting
While his career took off, his personal life presented significant challenges. Alusa is a father of eight children, including two sets of twins and four single births. His eldest son lives in the United States, meaning he is actively raising seven children alone in Kenya.
In a previous interview on the Netwalking podcast, Alusa shared the background of his journey as a single father. He explained that his marriage ended when his children were still very young.
At that time, his other children were aged three, seven, nine, and ten. The logistics of managing the household were overwhelming. He famously described the effort required for basic hygiene for seven children.
“Hizo ni vidole 10 za mikono na vidole 10 za miguu na watoto ni 7. Hapo ninakuwa nadeal na vidole 140.”
Even now, with still four little children at home, Alusa remains hands-on. He dedicates entire weekends to grooming, taking his sons to the barber and his daughters to the salon.
Through his reality show, he hopes to show that being a present father is a rewarding, if demanding, responsibility.
