Veteran comedian Onjiri the Cricket has pulled back the curtain on his harrowing 20-year battle with alcoholism, revealing how his partner’s drastic surveillance measures became the unlikely lifeline that pulled him back from the brink of death.

In a raw and emotional interview on the Oga Obinna Show yesterday, the celebrated entertainer confessed that his addiction had spiraled so out of control that his hands would tremble uncontrollably, making it impossible to hold a glass of water. His story is a chilling reminder of the silent epidemic of functional alcoholism consuming Kenya's creative industry.

The Depth of the Abyss

Onjiri, whose real name is Peter Gcheru, painted a picture of a man who was publicly laughing but privately dying. He began drinking in primary school, a habit that calcified into a two-decade dependency. At his nadir, he was consuming litres of cheap spirits daily, alienating his family and jeopardizing a career that had made him a household name.

"It wasn't just about having fun anymore; it was about survival," Onjiri told a stunned Obinna. "My body would shut down without the ethanol. I was a slave." He recounted heartbreaking interventions by industry peers like Jalang’o and Sandra Dacha, who warned him privately that he was "next" on the list of artists to die destitute if he didn't stop. But their words bounced off the wall of his intoxication.

• The Surveillance of Love: Onjiri revealed that his girlfriend, Salet, resorted to cloning his phone to monitor his movements and interactions. "I can't cheat," he laughed, though the undertone was serious. "She knows where I am, who I am talking to, and if I am near a bar. It sounds crazy, but that accountability saved me."
• The Promise: The turning point came when he looked into his son's eyes and realized he was becoming a memory before he was even gone. He made a pact with his boy to change.

Redemption and a New Act

Now sober for two years and five months, Onjiri is rebuilding his life brick by brick. His physical transformation is evident—the tremors are gone, replaced by a steady hand and a clearer gaze. He credits Salet’s "invasive" love and his own desperation for his survival.

"To anyone out there fighting this demon, know that rock bottom has a basement," Onjiri advised in his closing remarks. "Don't wait until you are digging that basement to ask for help. I am lucky to be alive, and I am not wasting a second chance."