Kennedy Rapudo has earned praise online for his mature approach to co-parenting after explaining why he does not insist that his stepson, Gavin, refer to him as “Dad.”
The conversation gained traction following a viral video taken at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which showed Rapudo walking alongside his wife Amber Ray and her son Gavin. In the clip, Rapudo is seen jokingly cautioning the teenager for leaning on Amber Ray, saying in Swahili, “Usishike bibi yangu hivyo” (Don’t hold my wife like that).
While some viewers interpreted the remark as jealousy, Rapudo was quick to clarify that it was light-hearted banter.
“That was just man-to-man talk,” Rapudo explained. “We have those conversations. I am raising him to be a man, but I also respect his boundaries.”
Addressing the broader debate, Rapudo said it would be inappropriate to demand the title of “Dad,” given that Gavin’s biological father is alive and actively involved in his life.
“Gavin is a teenager with a father who is very much present,” he said. “It would be disrespectful and confusing for me to force him to call me ‘Dad’ when he knows exactly who his father is.”
Instead, Rapudo revealed that they have found a comfortable middle ground.
“He calls me ‘Papa Africana,’ referencing our daughter, and I’m perfectly okay with that,” he noted.
His comments have been widely applauded by netizens, many of whom commended him for prioritizing respect, emotional clarity, and healthy co-parenting dynamics over societal pressure.
