Film director and digital content creator Richard Kamau, popularly known as Director Ritchie, has shared his deeply emotional experience filming gospel singer Nina Wambui, widely known as Ninah Mpendwa of the Wapendwa Muziki duo, giving birth to her first child.
Taking to his Instagram account on Monday, January 5, 2025, Ritchie revealed that filming the delivery was not technically challenging but was emotionally overwhelming. “Filming haikuwa rahisi; respect to all mothers,” he said, explaining that witnessing someone he knows and loves endure labor pains while holding a camera was difficult.
Ritchie admitted that hospitals are typically places he avoids, but he made an exception for the couple, whom he considers family. “Me, I do not go to hospitals, but for Wapendwa, I said I have to be there for the support because they are family to me,” he explained.
Reflecting on the experience after watching the final video, Ritchie described reliving every intense moment of the delivery. He said it gave him a renewed appreciation for women and mothers everywhere. “Nimetoka kuwatch video ya Wapendwa Muziki guys, nime sweat. Nilikuwa na feel kama inahappen sahi sahi, you know I was there inside the theatre, and the experience was… respect to all mothers,” he added.
The delivery itself, which took place naturally rather than via C-section as some had speculated, was captured in a raw and uncut video shared by Ninah’s husband, Mesh. In the clip, viewers see the couple inside the delivery room, with Mesh celebrating joyfully as their baby emerged. Ninah, who had previously expressed her fears about childbirth, is heard asking why the baby did not cry immediately, only to breathe a sigh of relief once the doctors helped the newborn start crying.
Mesh described the labor as challenging but ultimately successful and thanked God for the safe delivery. “WE ARE LIVE | Finally the raw and uncut labour and delivery video of @babympendwa | We saw God on this one,” he wrote on Instagram, capturing the relief and joy of the moment.
For Director Ritchie, the experience underscored the emotional weight of documenting real-life events and offered a profound perspective on the strength and resilience of mothers.
