A shocking paternity claim has rocked Kenyan entertainment circles as a mystery man asserts that musician Bahati’s beloved daughter Malaika is either his biological child or belongs to popular content creator Kinuthia. The bold allegation surfaced during a candid online interview with Eve Kenya, where the man, speaking in Swahili, declared, “Sidhani musician Bahati ako na mtoto hata moja. Bahati amua kama Malaika ni wangu ama wa Kinuthia, na najua ni wangu.”
This revelation, aired on Wednesday evening, has ignited fierce online debates, with fans dissecting family photos for resemblances and questioning the stability of Bahati’s high-profile household.
The interview was hosted by the ever-probing Mungai Eve on her popular YouTube channel. The man, whose voice carried a mix of defiance and desperation, elaborated on his suspicions.
He recounted alleged encounters from years past, insisting that Malaika’s striking features mirror his own lineage more than Bahati’s. “I have watched her grow on social media, and every time I see those eyes, that smile, it hits me like a thunderbolt,” he said, pausing for emphasis.
Eve, known for her no-holds-barred style, pressed him on evidence, but he promised to reveal more only after a formal DNA test. The conversation veered into Kinuthia’s territory when the man referenced the TikTok sensation’s flamboyant persona and past interactions with the Bahati family, suggesting a tangled web of relationships in Nairobi’s creative scene.
Bahati, whose real name is Kevin Kioko, has built an empire around his blended family since marrying content queen Diana Marua in 2020. Their union produced three children: Heaven, Majesty, and the now three-year-old Malaika Nyambura Bahati, born on November 1, 2022, amid nationwide fanfare.
Malaika quickly became a social media darling, amassing thousands of Instagram followers from infancy through sponsored baby posts and family vlogs. Yet, this idyllic image has faced cracks before. In June 2024, Bahati himself floated the idea of DNA tests for his kids during a heated reality show segment, sparking rumours of doubts within the marriage.
That episode, viewed millions of times, showed him joking yet seriously pondering paternity amid co-parenting stresses with Diana’s daughter Heaven from a previous relationship.
Supporters of Bahati, a gospel-turned-secular hitmaker with tracks like “Mama” still charting, flood timelines with pleas for privacy.
“Leave the kids out of adult mess,” tweeted one fan, echoing sentiments from human rights advocates wary of child exploitation in media. Critics, however, demand transparency, citing past celebrity scandals like comedian Prof Hamo’s 2021 DNA fallout with ex Jemutai.
Diana Marua, ever the family’s anchor, has stayed silent so far, focusing instead on promotional posts for her beauty line. Sources close to the couple whisper of private counselling sessions to weather the storm, emphasising their commitment to therapy as shown in their unfiltered YouTube series.
Bahati sidestepped questions from reporters, simply stating, “God knows the truth, and that’s enough for us.” His team hints at a family statement soon, possibly addressing the viral clip directly.
This saga highlights the double-edged sword of fame in Kenya’s digital age, where personal milestones become public property. As paternity whispers evolve into roars, all eyes turn to whether science or sentiment will settle the score. For Malaika, tucked away in her parents’ Runda home, the real question remains: will this noise fade or redefine her story forever?