Kenya’s legendary actor and media personality, Martin Githinji, widely known as Daddie Marto, has become a hot topic in the entertainment scene after his marital issues went public.
In light of these events, Marto’s past reflections on growing up without a father for the better part of his childhood have resurfaced, offering insight into his journey.
In a series of candid posts on his official X account on June 13, 2022, while commemorating Father’s Day, Marto reflected on his childhood, explaining that he grew up without his father for most of it and, looking back, he was grateful for that absence.
He said it shaped the man he is today, and despite the challenges, he felt glad he experienced life without his father’s presence.
“I grew up without my father for a better part of my childhood, For the man that currently am, Iam glad I grew up without him, “Marto reflected.
The multitalented creative went on to state that in a male human, a single individual could embody the roles of man, friend, father, and husband, adding that these roles, though they can coexist in one person, might display completely contrasting personalities.
He emphasised that not every man makes a good friend, and not every husband makes a good father, and vice versa.
“In a male human is the man, the friend, and if they so choose, is the father, the husband. These individuals can exist in one person and be in total contrast to each other in personality. Not every man makes a good friend. Not every husband makes a good father, and vice versa,” he added.
Marto on celebrating his dad
Additionally, Marto explained that despite his differences with his dad, he still respects him, which is why he chooses to honour him on Father’s Day.
“When I came of age, I confronted my father on the man that he is because he had hurt me. Story for another day, but in short, my father and I are no longer in speaking terms,” he explained.
“He said things, called me things, did things, but I still held out my respect for him because he is my father, despite his flaws. And still I celebrate Father’s Day for my father and not my mother.”
He went on to explain that because he could not erase the role his father had played, he could not credit his mother for fathering him.
“Because I cannot erase the role he played and credit my mother for fathering me. She mothered me well as a provider, protector and coverer, but my mother can never be my father could never fill that space and never,” he added.
“I was so sure of this when I went through a crisis that made me doubt myself as a man and I craved for fatherhood, yearned for my father in that moment. He did not come through so I had to call out the man in me for me.”
Marto further admitted that, having grown up without a father, he was figuring everything out on his own and acknowledged he could be wrong. However, he pointed out that the important thing was his heightened awareness of being vigilant for any way he might be faltering in his role as a father.
He affirmed that this self-awareness alone was more than previous generations had achieved.
“Having not been fathered I am figuring It all out by myself, I could be wrong. But at least I am well aware to be on the lookout for any way I am stumbling in my fatherhood. That in itself is more than the generation before us was capable of,” Marto stated.
