Alex Mwakideu Reveals Battle with Hearing Loss

Alex Mwakideu, one of Kenya’s most iconic radio personalities, has disclosed his private battle with progressive hearing loss, a condition he attributes to more than two decades of a high-decibel broadcasting career.

In an emotional revelation, the Radio 47 presenter shared that he has been diagnosed with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss, with the condition affecting his left ear. The diagnosis was confirmed by an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) following an audiological assessment requested after Mwakideu noticed increasing difficulty in everyday conversations .

Medical tests revealed that he has already lost approximately 45 to 50 percent of his hearing in his left ear. The doctor’s advice was stark: the damage is irreversible and cannot be restored by medication or surgery at this point . “You have lost 45 to 50 percent in your left ear, it cannot be restored with medication or surgery at this particular time. When it gets to 90 percent then you will not hear even the loudest sound,” the attending physician explained to Mwakideu.

To manage the condition and maintain his quality of life, Mwakideu has invested in personalised hearing aids. Sharing the expense involved in adapting to his new reality, he disclosed that the devices he currently wears cost him Sh430,000. Addressing speculation about his appearance, he clarified: “What you see are not ear pods, they are hearing aids and they are expensive.”

“Hear me clearly. If I could do it again, I’d still choose broadcasting,” the veteran presenter declared, disclosing his love for radio and his commitment to his listeners .

His story has resonated deeply within the industry. Fellow radio icon Maina Kageni described the situation as “very worrying for people in our trade.”