Bad boy Shaffie Weru talks about fatherhood and parting with daughter Milan 'family style'

Pulse: Many thought you wouldn’t be able to hack The Morning Show on KISS because of your partying. How’s the show coming so far?

Shaffie: Well, I have had to make a few adjustments, but that doesn’t mean that my partying lifestyle is about to change. When they picked us for the show, they knew that I was up to the challenge, and so was Kalekye. The only difference these days is that I wake up much earlier, and every day is a learning process.

P: How would you compare your previous show, The Rush Hour, to The Morning Kiss?

S: For a start, the show hours are the main difference, then again the content is different owing to the target audience we now appeal to. During the Rush Hour it was all about fun and getting relief after work stress, but the Morning Kiss is more informative.

P: Fortunately, you and Kalekye moved together but if she wasn’t your co-host who else would you have picked out.

S: Caroline Mutoko, the Radio Queen, would definitely be my other choice because she has been in the game for quite a while. She also mentored us for the job so it would be great to always keep learning from her.

P: Now that you mentioned Caroline as the Radio Queen, who do you think is the Radio King?

S: Without a doubt, Maina Kageni takes this one thanks to his eloquence, humour, control of the show, and love from the ladies and much more. Again most importantly the ratings don’t lie, and they have proven as much over time.

P: Talking about love from the ladies people refer to you as the ‘Kenyan playboy’...

S: (Laughs) Of course I used to be the Kenyan playboy back then but these days, I am more of a “turn up king”.

P: Are you trying to say you have slowed down when it comes to ladies and everything to do with the good life?

S: I mean with time, priorities shift. At some point I realised that ladies will always be there. What I needed to focus on was building my brand and taking care of my daughters.

P: How has fatherhood and family life been so far?

S: As far as family is concerned, my daughters Millan who is nine, and Nia who is six months are my life. I would protect them with all I am because they are the only thing that matter whenever it comes to family.

P: The two have different mothers, have they met? Do you take time to be with both of them?

S: Besides work, my kids are the most important aspect of my life so best believe that if I am not working, I will spend as much time as I can with them. And yes, they have met and Millan is quite fond of Nia.

P: Do you attend parents’ meetings or do you leave that to the mums?

S: I am their dad and I will do everything it takes. I am always at Rusinga School whenever Millan has school functions. Of course, many know that I am a celebrity and I look like the rebel parent because most of the others are slightly older, but a dad’s got to do whatever it takes.

P: So much about your daughters...What’s your relationship like with their mothers?

S: I talk about my kids because they are me. I already told you they are the most important thing in my life.

P: Well, would you confirm that you are married?

S: Those are side shows.

P: Given a chance though, who would you settle down with?

S: I don’t really find that relevant right now. Let us just say that is a story for another day.

P: Rumour had it that you were supposed to join the Big Brother Africa House. What changed?

S: That is true, I have been called to be part of the show for the last six editions, but I have always turned the offer down because of my daughters.

P: What do you mean?

S: You see, Milan is all grown-up and she knows how to surf the Internet, then again she is in a school where kids are techies and I wouldn’t want them reading scandalous information about me as a parent.

P: So would you have taken up the chance if your daughters wouldn’t get to read about the drama?

S: Yes! If they had asked me to join when she was as young as two years, I would have taken up the chance. But at this point, I would rather engage in more constructive activities like being a turn up king.

P: Tell us about this “turn up lifestyle” you so love.

S: I am the “Rave-rend” the “Kenyan King of Turn Ups”. You will find me at all the cool parties in town, any day of the week. Every Friday I update my “Raverend” page telling fans about the best parties happening in town and that is how I swiftly rose through the ranks on the Kenyan party scene.

P: What is the wildest thing you ever did as a “Turn Up King”?

S: A lot of drama and fun moments have happened but ‘48 parties in 48 hours’ was the most daring but coolest thing I have ever done. No one has beaten that yet.

P: Was it a sponsored gig and how did it come about?

S: My fans dared me to try that out casually, and I was like why not? I took up the challenge and of course interested sponsors came on board to supply the booze and help to publicise the campaign. During that time I went to any and every party I was invited to from Kibera to Karen. Afterwards I had the roughest hangover, but it was well worth it.

P: Now that you are the life of the party, what would you do if your daughters wanted to be like you?

S: I would respect their decision and offer them appropriate advice because I always try as much as possible to create an environment where my daughters feel free to tell me everything they go through.

P: So you don’t mind turning up with your daughters later in the game?

S: I plan to be the Kenyan turn up king for a long time. Ten years from now, Millan will probably be turning up, and so will I. And if our paths cross while turning up we shall do it family style. So no! I will not mind turning up with them.