Just days after the body of comedian Anthony Njenga aka Njenga Mswahili was found in Nairobi’s Dagoretti area, Eric Omondi has expressed sadness at what his colleague went through prior to his demise.
Speaking during an interview on a local radio station, Eric revealed that Njenga was not okay for almost three years and would seek help from different people.
He added that at one point he shopped for the deceased but did not follow up on his well-being afterwards.
“Njenga Mswahili was not okay for nearly three years. He sought help from different people, including myself. He approached me on two or three occasions for assistance. I helped where I could.
“The last time I bumped into him, he told me that he had gotten saved, and was preaching at Junction area in Dagoretti. I asked him to get into the supermarket and pick the things that he needed, which he did. I settled the bill,” said Omondi.
A few months later he was informed that the comedian had been arrested on grounds of theft and it is then he learnt that Njenga was battling with depression.
“I was shocked; given I knew he was born again. Much later, I learnt that he was suffering depression. This is something that very many people knew, but today, life is akin to how people get fast-food meals.
“Somebody could be shouting for help, but no one cares to help. It is like we have lost every shred of humanity that we had,” said Omondi.
He added that he partly blames himself for assuming that Njenga would navigate through his problems alone.
According to him, comedians often struggle to maintain a certain image in front of their fans yet they suffer in silence.
He referred to instances when he had made it big on TV but was still using public transport since he could not afford a car.
“When you are a celebrity who has a big name with no money, then chances are high you would suffer depression, given the lifestyle you’re living is not mirroring your status as a public figure,” said Omondi.
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