This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
On a lighter note, the recent passing of Churchill comedian has sparked a wave of celebrities opening up about their past struggles. Among them is event organizer Chris Kirwa, who has shared a poignant story of his journey from grass to grace.
Sharing an old photo of himself dancing at Bomas of Kenya, Kirwa penned a heartfelt message, 'This is me dancing at Bomas of Kenya: Laugh it's allowed – I laugh too nowadays.' He then went on to share his story, revealing that he was ashamed to share the picture among his events journey because he was struggling to cope with the loss of his mother at 17.
After being hosted by relatives for a while, Kirwa ventured out to stay alone, a difficult experience he describes as 'never easy staying with relatives.' He then managed to join KBC English Service and became one of the top broadcasters, but payments were meager, forcing him to live in a house where the curtains were his bed sheets at night and vice versa during the day.
Depressed and unaware of what depression was, Kirwa suffered from ulcers, went without food at times, and survived on hot water and sugar for dinner. Despite being a sanguine, he would often tell stories in the KBC canteen and make his colleagues laugh, earning them tea and mandazi, which was often his first meal in days.
As a celebrity on radio, Kirwa struggled with the pressure of being famous but broke, sneaking home to avoid being recognized by his peers. He admits that peer pressure is real and can lead to depression and suicide, revealing that he too had thought along those lines.
Today, Kirwa is open about his struggles, urging people to accept that life is a process and we must be ready to go through it. He warns against taunting or asking celebrities why they are in the same circles as them, as this can be their last line of defense or push them over the edge.
Published on July 2, 2020, at 12:30 PM.
