Celebrated Kenyan music stars David Mathenge, popularly known as Nameless, and his wife Wahu Kagwi have opened up about how they manage their household.
The pop-star couple, who have been married for nearly two decades and share three daughters, recently revealed the practical details of their domestic arrangements.
Speaking in a Q&A video on social media, the couple shared insights into the Mathenge Family Charter, an initiative established early this year to redistribute household duties.
Shifting from a Mom-Centred Home
For years, the Mathenge household operated with Wahu at the centre of domestic management. However, the cumulative weight of running the home led to severe exhaustion.
Wahu explained that the decision to change came after she experienced overwhelming fatigue from carrying the mental load of the household.
"At the beginning of the year, we created the Mathenge Family Charter as a way of moving away from a mom-centered home to a system-based home," Wahu shared.
"The idea was to reduce the amount of mental load that I carried because yoh!!! It can be very exhausting sometimes."
The charter operates around four core principles known as the 4Rs: Recognise the invisible labour, Redistribute it fairly, Reduce the burden on mom, and Reward team participation.
Who Does What? The Breakdown of Chores
In their social media video, the couple detailed who handles specific responsibilities under the new system:
School Drop-offs: Wahu manages early morning school runs while Nameless sleeps.
Academics and School Fees: Wahu supervises homework, while Nameless covers school fees and assists with basic questions.
House Shopping: Previously handled by Wahu, grocery runs are now undertaken by Nameless or ordered together.
Listening to the Children: Wahu listens to their daughters' daily stories after school. Nameless admitted the girls avoid venting to him because he tends to offer immediate advice instead of just listening.
House Cleaning: Cleaning duties are shared across the family and their domestic manager, Massie, easing the workload on household staff.
Medical Appointments: Wahu organises healthcare scheduling for herself, Nameless, and the children.
"Success rate??? - I'd say we're at 25-30%," Wahu noted, emphasizing that the family prioritises progress over perfection.
"I keep telling my friends how I now have free RAM to engage in other activities that give me joy."
Nameless highlighted that acknowledging domestic workload has improved their home atmosphere and encouraged other men to evaluate invisible labour in their own households.
"I really think that understanding invisible labor has really created more harmony in the home," Nameless stated. "I'd recommend it to all my guys out there."
