Onjiri the Cricket breaks silence on 20-year battle with alcohol addiction
By Valerian Khakayi, January 20, 2026Veteran comedian and actor Onjiri, popularly known as Onjiri the Cricket, has opened up about his painful 20-year struggle with alcohol addiction, revealing how drinking nearly destroyed his life, health, and relationships.
Speaking during an interview with Oga Obinna on Monday, January 19, 2026, Onjiri admitted that his alcohol problem lasted for over two decades and reached a point where his body could no longer function properly.
The comedian revealed that his close friends in the entertainment industry could see he was slowly dying, even when he could not see it himself.
He recalled fellow comedians Jalang’o and Sandra Dacha warning him that he was next in line if he did not change.
“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,” Onjiri narrated.
“I remember Jalango saying Onjiri, you are next,’ and Sandra Dacha saying, ‘Onjiri, you are next.”
In addition, Onjiri said the most painful part was realising that people around him felt helpless because he was drunk most of the time.
“When it gets to a point where your friends are looking at you, and they are seeing that you are dying, but there is nothing they can do because every other time you are drunk,” he added.
He also revealed that he has lost many friends to alcohol-related deaths. At almost every funeral, he would be called aside and told he was the next one.
“I have lost a series of friends, akina Othul Othul, and kwa kila matanga nilikuwa naitwa naambiwa, ‘Onjiri, wewe ndio next,'” he stated.
According to the comedian, one of the biggest dangers of alcohol addiction is denial.
“The bad thing with alcohol is that you do not see it; everyone else is seeing it, but you don’t. You end up hurting people , your family members, and your friends,”Onjiri added.
Alcohol addiction
Onjiri admitted that he drank anything as long as it had alcohol.
“Nilikuwa nakunywa anything yenye iko na alcohol content, ikuwe chang’aa, ikuwe busaa, ikuwe keg, bora iko na alcoholic content,” he revealed.
Shockingly, his drinking habit started when he was still in primary school. Growing up in the village, he said they would steal traditional brews that were hidden near rivers.
“Alcohol nilianza kukunywa nikiwa primary, nilikuwa naenda tunaiba, unajua ushago, zile pombe zikitegenezwa zinawekwanga kule chini ya mto so tulikuwa tunaenda tunazichota juu ya sukari nguru, unajua, every time unakunywa juu ya sukari nguvu ishaanza ku ferment already so it is alcohol,”Onjiri disclosed.
Overcoming the addiction
Onjiri explained that quitting alcohol was not easy, emphasising that unless someone truly decides to stop, even rehab will not help, as many relapse immediately after leaving. He said that one has to hit rock bottom before real change can happen.
“Alcohol ukianza kuikunywa kuiwacha sio rahisi na kama huja amua kuwacha pombe wewe mwenyewe kuwa pombe si rahisi. Kuna watu wengi wataenda rehab, na wakitoka the first place wataenda ni bar kwa sababu hawajaamua,”he said.
Onjiri revealed that he did not go to rehab but made a personal decision to quit.
He approached his son and told him he had let him down for too long and that things would be different this time, promising not to drink again.
“You have to hit the rock bottom, ukifika rock bottom yako, mimi sikuenda rehab. 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'” Onjiri revealed.
He recalled that the first few weeks were very difficult, with severe withdrawal symptoms, and he even had to drink tea through a straw because of the shaking.
“The first few weeks the withdrawal was worse, mimi nilikuwa na kunywa chai na straw kwa sababu nilikuwa na shake,” Onjiri stated.
Additionally, the comedian revealed that he has been clean for two years and five months.
“I have been clean for two years and five months,” he said.