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Peter Onjiri recalls being arrested in Chang’aa den as he celebrates 4 years sober
17th September, 2026 09:27 AM
Comedian Peter Onjiri, popularly known as Onjiri the Cricket, has marked four years of sobriety while reflecting on the difficult period when alcohol addiction dominated his life.
Taking to his official social media accounts on Thursday, September 17, 2026, Onjiri revealed that his birthday celebrations were previously centred around drinking, often lasting several days and ending either in severe hangovers or trouble with the law.
“I mark my 4th birthday sober today. This used to be a drinking spree that would last for days, ending in a one big hell of a hangover or a police station,” Onjiri said.
Arrested in Chang’aa den
The comedian recalled one particular incident when his drinking landed him in trouble after he was arrested in a chang’aa den.
“I remember there was a year I was arrested in a Chang’aa den and spent 5 days in industrial area prison because I couldn’t afford the 300 shillings cash bail,” he said.
Onjiri described his sobriety milestone as a major personal transformation, concluding his message with, “Happy birthday to the new me.”
His latest reflection comes months after he opened up about his more than two-decade battle with alcohol addiction, revealing how severely drinking had affected his life.
20-year battle with alcohol
During an interview with Oga Obinna in January 2026, Onjiri said his alcohol problem had lasted for more than 20 years.
“I had an alcohol problem for over 20 years. I had gotten to a point where I could not hold a glass. I used to shake mbaka nitoe lock,” he said.
He also recalled how friends in the entertainment industry, including Jalang’o and Sandra Dacha, warned him about the state of his health.
Onjiri said alcohol had become such a major part of his life that he would drink anything containing alcohol, including chang’aa, busaa and kegs. He also revealed that his relationship with alcohol began while he was still in primary school, when he and other children would secretly drink traditional brews.
How Onjiri stopped drinking
Onjiri said quitting alcohol was not easy and that he eventually reached what he described as his “rock bottom”.
Unlike many people who seek rehabilitation, he said he did not go to rehab but instead made a personal decision to stop drinking.
He recalled approaching his son and admitting that he had let him down for a long time before promising that things would be different.
“I just decided I approached my son Nikawambia ‘by the way I have let you down for so long this time round. Nataka kukuambia things are different sikunywi pombe tena’,” he said.
The comedian said the early stages of sobriety were difficult because of withdrawal symptoms, revealing that he experienced severe shaking and at one point had to drink tea using a straw.
“The first few weeks the withdrawal was worse; mimi nilikuwa na kunywa chai na straw kwa sababu nilikuwa na shake,” Onjiri said.
