Kenyan legendary songbird Esther Wahome rarely discussed her family issues publicly but she did it at last. The Kuna dawa hitmaker recently broke her silence to share the challenges of raising her firstborn son, who is autistic.
In a touching interview with Lynn Ngugi, Esther Wahome, who has devoted over three decades to gospel ministry, courageously shared her journey of facing personal struggles and enduring ridicule upon discovering her son's autism. She also disclosed that her father, who was both a musician and a minister, served as her motivation to pursue a career in music.
While Wahome has maintained a private stance on her family life, it's known that she has been married for 27 years. She tied the knot at the young age of 22, and alongside her husband, they are blessed with three children.
At the pinnacle of her career, Esther Wahome welcomed her second child, a son. However, when he was two years old, she learned that he was autistic, marking the onset of a challenging journey of parenting an autistic child. Amidst this challenge, Wahome discovered she was expecting her third child, adding to her anxiety about managing the pressure.
Despite the difficulties, Wahome found solace in the support of fellow singer Sarah K, who stood by her side during this trying period.
Esther Wahome also found unwavering support from her husband, who, she revealed, would often stay up all night caring for their autistic son and still manage to head to work the next morning.
During this challenging period, Wahome's singing career took a backseat as she prioritized addressing her son's condition. However, she was disheartened to discover that some of her close friends were secretly pleased about her struggles, viewing it as a chance that she might never sing again.
Surprisingly, it was during this period that Wahome received the most gig opportunities. Despite this, her deepest prayer remained for her son to receive healing, even as she faced ridicule for singing about healing while her own son struggled to find his.
"When my son was five years old, I told God I had prayed for many miracles, which had happened, and at that time, I prayed for the same. I heard people saying, 'She prays for others to be healed, yet her own son hasn't been healed,'" she noted.
However, Wahome disclosed that she persisted in prayer, and her prayers were answered when her son uttered the word "teacher" while in school.
Over time, he started speaking more words and now communicates fluently, a progress Wahome considers as her testimony.
"Right now, the guy speaks fluent English with an American accent. The boy does everything independently; that is my testimony," Wahome shared.
She revealed that her son possesses a talent for singing, and they plan to unveil it when the timing is appropriate.
