SINGLE DAD OF 7 AGED 5-14YEARS || MELVIN ALUSA EXPLAINS HIS JOURNEY OF RAISING KIDS ALONE

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Melvin Alusa, an actor and drama teacher from Kenya, introduces himself as the father of eight children while actively raising seven alone following a difficult separation where he was left with his kids by their mother. He explains that despite societal norms in Kenya often viewing single parenthood through the lens of stigma or assuming mothers are always primary caregivers, there is a growing community of dedicated single fathers like him who refuse to give up on their families. His decision to launch the reality show "House of Alusa" stems from public curiosity about how he manages such a large household and his desire to offer transparency into their intimate lives rather than presenting a glossy, unrealistic version filled with luxury cars or fancy restaurants. The series aims to showcase authentic moments of struggle, joy, faith, and daily life as they navigate the challenges of raising children ranging in age from one year old to fourteen without a mother present. The journey began under extremely volatile circumstances when Melvin found himself caring for seven children aged between one and ten with very limited support initially; he notes that while women are traditionally expected to ground a home, men often face greater scrutiny when stepping into this role alone. Balancing his acting career which sometimes requires travel away from home, managing household duties like changing diapers and dealing with bed-wetting toddlers, and providing emotional stability was incredibly tough at first, leading him to rely heavily on family financial support and a dedicated nanny for the first two years of their solo journey. He emphasizes that being present is not just about providing money but offering guidance, security, and values so his children feel directed in life regardless of societal attempts to separate them from father figures, noting particularly how girls adapt easily while boys need more companionship as he continues to grow with them into adulthood. Beyond the logistical challenges, Melvin shares that raising such a large family has been spiritually rewarding despite the hardships, finding immense joy even in small snippets of daily life like random hugs or simple laughter around the house where his children often take care of him too. He describes himself as a Gen Z burner who believes life is sweeter together and expresses deep affection for each child individually while maintaining them as a united unit under one roof until they reach adulthood between eighteen to twenty-one years old. The show will be hosted on Networking TV alongside other programs in their catalog, offering viewers an unfiltered look at intentional fatherhood that counters the narrative of deadbeat dads by proving there are men who stand firm and raise multiple children solo with love and resilience. Ultimately, Melvin hopes this platform encourages others facing similar situations to know they are not alone and validates the existence of present fathers who choose to stay grounded for their families through God's grace.

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Hello and welcome to SPMbuzz. My name is Shikow Gitau. We are coming to you from this special launch of this reality show by the name House of Alusa. And I'm right here with the man, not man of the hour, to say the man of the day or man of the season, man of the show, you know, man of the show, right? >> I'm man of the show. >> Yeah, maybe you can introduce yourself to our viewers. >> Mhm, my name is Melvin Alusa. Uh, I'm an actor. Actor, you know, drama teacher, and life enthusiast. Like you know, in my capacity come a father. >> Yeah. >> Uh, yeah, and you know, show is it's a reality show into a House of Alusa. I'm a father raising seven children. And you know, you know, you know, you know, story. Yeah. >> The whole story. >> Yeah, yeah, that's yeah, that's the story. >> And it's beautiful that the kids to now on a happy V water. Yeah, they are seven actually. And uh, maybe you can tell us why exactly you decided, you know, it's uh, your family now you have decided, you know, to put it as a reality show. Why many? >> First things first, putting up a show like this one see you right here because you see these are my children and this is my family. So, that's a very intimate space to to to to expose uh, people. It's like an underbelly. However, um, I'm I'm in a situation where you know, you know, they're from different mothers, they're from they're from one mom. Uh, in the past of going there and then the children were left, you know, in my custody. So, grappling with you know, emotional issues, mental, financial, it got to a point where we somehow we went through it. Uh, we eventually stabilized. So, anytime you can be a I don't shy away from saying I'm a dad to seven children and and the first question is like you're lying, you're lying. Then I prove it, no. And then thing is, how do you do it? How do you balance out your work where money you have been taking care of yourself, and then also balancing out being a father. And then you're being being a dad is not just to provide. There's There's the emotional aspect to the of the children, the mental aspect. People are asking, how how do you manage to do it? So so the idea came to me that, okay, people are actually asking how you know And that's when the idea of doing a reality show to put people in a sneak peek into into our lives came up. Yeah. >> You know, it's beautiful that you've mentioned that you have never shied away from saying that you are a father of seven kids. >> Yes. >> Maybe at first cuz >> Especially eight. One of them are in America. As long as you grow up you will be away. Yeah, you just have to do all the kids are going local. There's one I've sent to the US. Yeah. It's in Cabo. ATL, Atlanta Atlanta, Georgia. >> Okay, we are sorry. So eight? >> Yes, eight. But actively actively raising seven. >> They will be like, seven? >> Yeah, did you plan for them? Were they in When I grew up I always wanted to have a big family because the gap between me and my sibling and my infant was a big seven years. So and then how we are going to So me being the being the eldest like in our family. So I was constantly a very lonely child. Our neighbor who used to be across us over fertile. >> [laughter] >> I always yearn to have a family and you could not a bit at your own a single dad. >> Yeah, [snorts] but I always wanted to have a big family. >> Seven kids doing this reality show. Maybe how was it for you maybe the first time you told them, you know, we are going to do this and this? >> [gasps] >> I have a total of you know, it means life is a total of you know, under the scrutiny of a camera. And and I would look and see if this thing was caught on camera. I mean you know, you know, you know, caught on camera. Even life lessons, so many of them, values, principles, faith. This kind of moment would encourage someone, entertain someone somewhere. >> [gasps] >> I was strange cuz I've seen me on screen before. I was strange but but but I had to break down because you know, total total of total of total of total of total of People coming into our house or into into our space and recording those moments and they were real see acting. Yeah. >> Maybe in most cases where you know, we find marriages and maybe relationships not working but we have kids in the midst of that situation. Most of the time we find moms being the primary parent. Yes, yes. But here here with you as a dad being the primary caregiver of seven kids. In the beginning maybe how was it for you because you know, they they will say it's not a norm especially in our country Kenya. >> Yeah. I think it's to be honest it's it's not a norm. However, there's a silent community rising here, single fathers. Wako. Niveli maybe my number maybe a bit, you know, uh iko juu. Like any that fathers are sticking it out for their children these days. And you really do want to know when I mean they don't come out to say, you know, here I am doing this, doing you know you know I'm I'm a single dad. Be a good trauma and your stigma. >> [snorts] >> Um however, what was the question again? >> My question was, how was it for you at the beginning? >> beginning, I It was tough. I really want to go home. It was going to go home. It was going to go home. Yeah. >> What would you say was the hardest part of being the primary caregiver? >> Balancing work and the the the aspect of your children at home. You you you you you going to go home soon because you could not do that. Come on, the nanny I had at the time, you know, you know, you know, women are the Women ground a home. Women We are the pillars like any we women, mothers, wives, how do ground you home? So So a man is able to go out in general. I could say that you do a lot. Mama to you go. They are safe with their mom. Now, come in a situation whereby let me get back to the children at home. How do you balance work like sometimes my work also involves to travel and I mean that away for a week, for 2 weeks. The the the maid when you go home or that the house nanny the manager at a change now that the mom is not there. You really going to be my main my main issue. So, when I put it there, some jobs I didn't think Come on, that could have been my life to go out for for some time. I didn't take them. Because it was such a volatile situation. Remember when this journey began, my youngest twins I mean we can get to the family's treasure by day. But I have two sets of twins. That's why the number is the number equal to you equal. And if I bought but but I could bless now two sets of twins. So, five bucks but now those twins now bring it up up seven. >> Yes. When I started this journey, my solo the twins were one my youngest twins were one year. So so so so so I found myself in a in a situation where I had seven aged one to 10. >> [laughter] >> I [gasps] mean they they depend on you. Almost 95% fully. >> One apple 100% because there's a joke I keep saying you know the small small aspects of caregiving what I don't want to be diapers, some are wetting the bed, some are doing what 10 of them. How do >> [snorts] >> you navigate it? But God God is faithful because at the time when this situation began I didn't have a very solid nanny. My name is Bilha. >> How long did you stay with her? >> For two years. She navigated that household for two years sana. I guess I could have a money to do what I want to do because you can't do this thing alone as a man. You can't do this thing alone as a man or even you know I don't want to do this because you know an entire village. So that money came through. I feel of course family support in terms of to you know money to visit and encourage and what not. Yeah so difficult it may have been since I had a single dad meaning I don't know what I mean support. You are going to do it too. >> All right. Now I know very well that once we post this video there is one question that will uh come up. Yep. Sasa seven kids, how old is the oldest right now? >> 14. >> Yeah. >> Now I'm looking for the right words. Are you planning to resettle again? >> I'm a young man. I'm a Gen Z burner. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, uh-huh. >> No, I can't cancel it out. Me, me I was created for companionship. Someone to lay a shoulder on Life is sweeter and better together. >> [snorts] >> I can't cancel out at the mini I I mean >> Uh-huh. This the camera. >> Maybe at the >> Yeah. So, you're ready >> Baby girl is easier to adopt. >> [laughter] >> I want to do boys boys boys to come lay >> Uh-huh. >> You you You might not raise me. Help me to look for my dad. But girls, they assimilate. They adapt to the man when you easily. >> So, in case there's a lady out there at the camera corner at the two way okay. >> Eh. >> Not necessarily one even two three. >> One two three. >> Mhm. >> One two three. My calling is to call the other children. >> But it's in by a period. >> It's a joy. >> Yeah. >> Raising children is a joy. I decided to be a present father for some of them. I feel or rather I I'm of the school of thought that what total when I put the identity out from their fathers. A child is secure, feels secure, feels guided, feels like in a direction. You know? So, even despite the attempts of you know, to separate our total you know, I keep saying this is a good you know, you know, between you and Google where you can say hey, to our house. He cut the end of cut the end of this a children of a human beings. Yeah, so I put my foot down. Essentially, I will raise my children as they are as a unit. What what do I need to do here? I need to go and influence the how directly. Values and faith and my perception of life and me I give it to them. After that I should be 18 to 21, yeah. >> Maybe to give a message without maybe preempting much about the show. Maybe you can give us now the structure. Maybe you may tell me once I go 14 and then from there. >> Hey, so so actively father of eight actively raising seven. The seven I'm raising one of 14. So, 14, 13, 11. And then seven, seven are the twins, fraternal twins. And then five, five. Those are also fraternal twins. So, we have two sets of twins. Boy, girl, boy, girl, fraternal. >> Now, where do we get once the show is launched officially? Where do they get to watch, you know, this beautiful show? This family beautiful beautiful family show. >> I don't know maybe House of Alusa is a reality show that that gives us that we have we have graciously allowed you know, for the public audience to to see. Our lives and they really see see it's not a nice glossy show where it's all we Tunisha K Mansion Kubwa in Ruwanda. We're driving big cars and we eat in fancy restaurants. That That can be there if when if and when that time comes. However, in a show to about our life our struggles, our joys. We We find joy in the most in the most minute of things. These kids can say things like check in the mojo. You know, we find joy in going cool as much as you can. >> [snorts] >> You know, compete to laugh to round it to my house to make it to laugh my house to round it going for work. Those simple little snippets of life. And in those moments Pia, of course [snorts] now I learn when I need learn I'm I'm able to know where you are where you are and these kids also they take care of me. Yeah, the hugs are random. Daddy don't worry. How do you know I was worrying? Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know kind of thing. So, that's House of Aluasa. Um that's where they So, that's just basically the show. I love you in in a in a What should you expect from this show? Expect the unexpected, man. We are all spontaneous. We are all Most of us really we are artists, we are sportsmen. Yeah, there are some fights up and up there. There are real moments. There are There is so much love and it's all happening The Networking TV. The The Networking TV has a catalog of shows. Yeah, there is The Networking itself. The Networking Um with The Networking Universe which is about kids on campus and you know you know the lifestyles. There is Babas Palace being done by Anyau Jambo and Ben Teki. And then now the baby of the show is House of Aluasa. So, you go there there is an entire catalog. That's where we are going to be hosted. Mhm. >> All right. Thank you so much. We can't wait to see you know the reality >> Asante. >> of House of Alusa. >> Absolutely. Like, share, tell someone tell someone that there is a family somewhere >> [snorts] >> that is by God's grace, you know, being, you know, grounded by a man. Yeah, in this era of all going to deadbeat parents, this is the other side where where there are also men like me raising seven children. Mine solo. >> All right. You have heard it. It's not all about deadbeat dads. We have very present dads still in this society. >> There are intentional fathers. Yeah, yeah. >> So, make sure you wait at the Networking TV to watch the reality show House of Alusa. Thank you so much. My name is Shiko Gitau. Make sure you follow us on all platforms at S Bimbas KE. Follow me at I _ am Shiko Gitau. Bye-bye.