Journalist Larry Madowo has raised a humorous concern about drinking church altar wine after a friend from Malawi gifted him the drink.
He wondered if consuming the wine could have any negative consequences, joking about the possibility of being “struck by lightning.” Madowo’s playful question came as he shared a gift brought to him by a friend.
He explained that he was unsure whether drinking the wine was safe. He said he wanted advice from locals before trying it. He added that he was nervous about the potential outcomes of tasting altar wine.
“Majirani nina swali, kina rafiki yangu ameniletea zawadi. Lakini huko kwenu Malawi, si nikikunywa hii nitapigwa na radi?” Larry said on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Madowo said he felt a bit anxious because no one was giving him an answer. He explained that he feared negative effects but still wanted to enjoy the gift. He added that the wine was from the church and he respected its significance.
“Sema kitu, unataka nipigwe na radi? Hataki kusema chochote. Lakini naogopa, mniambie. Ni mvinyo wa kanisa.”
He joked that he was concerned about going through any harm if he drank the wine. He said he wanted reassurance that nothing bad would happen. Madowo added that he was trying to be careful despite the playful nature of his question.
“Lakini nikikunywa naogopa kuenda kutakakua na madhara. Sitapigwa na radi nikikunywa altar wine?” he asked.
Madowo highlights travel frustrations and visa issues
The altar wine issue comes days after Madowo publicly raised concerns about unusual or frustrating experiences. Earlier this month, he called out Nigeria’s Ksh10,000 visa fee for Kenyans. He said the cost seemed unfair given that Nigeria benefits from visa-free entry to Kenya.
In a video uploaded to his X account on Monday, March 9, 2026, Madowo explained how a $25 visa quickly ballooned into $80 due to hidden fees and digital processing costs. He said the system appeared designed to disadvantage Kenyan passport holders.
“Nigerians don’t need a visa to come to Kenya, but as a Kenyan passport holder, I’m still paying $80 for a single-entry visa. Giant of Africa, you dey fall my hand oh,” Madowo said, highlighting the disparity between countries.
