A self-proclaimed minister, social media influencer, and entrepreneur Yahdan Yada has set the internet ablaze with a claim that reads like something out of a luxury lifestyle fantasy—or a moral debate: he says he pays his wife more than Sh130 million ($1 million) every year to stay at home and raise their children.

Yahdan Yada, known for his viral videos and herbalist ventures, revealed that he gives Aji Yada Sh19 million ($150,000) per pregnancy as push gift, and adds a Sh32 million ($250,000) annual stipend for choosing to dedicate herself full-time to motherhood. As the couple anticipates their fifth child, these numbers have reignited fierce debate online.

While “push gifts”—luxury tokens given to women after childbirth have become more visible in celebrity culture, Yada’s arrangement goes beyond a one-off gesture. This is structured, ongoing financial support, a level of commitment almost unheard of, even in affluent circles.

In a 2024 interview with The Express, Yada defended the payments as more than a gift—they are, he insists, a formal recognition of motherhood as labor.

“She has a maid, a chef, a personal stylist. It’s my job, from the bottom of her feet to the top of her head, to maintain her because she is a gift from God,” he said.

“Stay-at-home parenting is one of the most demanding jobs in the world. You don’t have to do it at $250,000, but it should be your responsibility to maintain her.”

The resurfaced claims have sparked polarized reactions. Some Instagram users called it outrageous: “Paying your wife to have your kids is crazy work,” wrote @trav_santana. Others questioned the practicality: “How is that financially sustainable?” asked @dremersvision.

Supporters hail Yada’s approach as a radical acknowledgment of women’s unpaid labor, while critics warn it risks creating unrealistic expectations, trivializing the financial pressures most families face, or simply courting viral attention.

Beyond the numbers, the story poses a larger question: in a world where motherhood often comes at the cost of financial independence, how do we truly value the labor, love, and sacrifice of women at home?

Yahdan Yada may be one of the wealthiest influencers in the room, but his claim forces a reflection that money alone may not answer: what is the worth of a mother?