Conjestina Achieng’s best kept secret continues to puzzle his son Charltone Otieno who is desperate to know who his biological father is.
The legendary boxer has only one child whom she raised as a single parent. At age six, Charltone asked his mother about his father but she didn’t say a word.
Charltone’s bid to find out about his biological father was derailed by Conjestina’s mental illness, the boxer was diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder or paranoid schizophrenia, a chronic mental illness in which a person loses touch with reality.
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that distorts the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, relates to others and perceives reality.
About 10% of people with schizophrenia commit suicide and are more likely to have a drug or alcohol abuse problem. Treatments such as taking medication, participating in therapy and being hospitalized can reduce symptoms.
Charltone says he no longer bother to ask his mother Conjestina about his father’s whereabouts because of her mental condition.
“I asked her when I was 6-years-old. She said she will answer me when am old enough. Am now old enough but I can’t ask it, she is not at the right state of mind. It will be insensitive for me to ask her that right now. Am focused on her health. I would like to know him, whether dead or alive,” said Charltone during an interview with Mpasho.
Charltone asked his family members about his father and they too didn’t tell him anything, they told him its his mother who should furnish him with his dad’s whereabouts.
Dad issues aside, the 25-year-old is also an aspiring boxer but currently works as a fitness trainer in Nairobi.
Charltone hopes to repeat his mother’s feat in the boxing ring one day, but he doesn’t want to ride on her past glory.
“My mum raised the Kenyan flag, but she has now been neglected. It demoralized me, but I am a man, I have to live my life. I saw my mum struggling, so it is unfair for me to ride on her name without working hard. I know assistance may come, but that is a short cut,” said Charltone.
He added that;
“If mum made the name, It is wise of me to keep her legacy.”
The 25-year-old aspiring boxer further disclosed that his mother used to train him before she got sick with mental illness.
“Mum used to train me. When I was in class 8, I was about to get into the ring, but she suddenly became mentally ill. All my doors were shuttered, all the attention went to her and how she can get well. I was left on my own.”
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