I interviewed Ngomongo, a former Vitimbi actor, on 22nd March 2015. And published his story the following day. He told me what he told me. But, it later turned out, he took me for a ride.
I met Ngomongo outside Karira Supermarket in Dandora Phase 1. As I stepped off the cab,I saw a face I recognized… He looked gaunt and forlon… Standing outside the supermarket right next to a bar that was beside the supermarket.
Clad in an old suit coat that hang over like haggard body,and a khaki trouser that did no justice to his already denuded look, I found it hard to reconcile the scrawny figure infront of me with the brilliant TV star I grew up idolizing.
I shook his hand… It was a frail handshake that betrayed the wastefulness that was eating him up. He spoke… With a frangible voice and a gloomy smile.
He ushered me into the bar next to him from where we would conduct the hour long interview. He waved at the waitresses in the bar… Not the usual young and nubile girls who swing around High-end restaurants with a swanky uniform and a rich smile… But a bunch of old,weather-beaten women who looked every inch cut for the job they had.
They asked him,
‘Tusker ama!? ‘ and he brushed them off saying’ Leo niko na wageni… ‘
We then sat on some old,rickety bar chairs,chairs that Ngomongo had sat on for decades and got on to business.
Throughout the interview,Ngomongo was insincere with me. He LIED to me that KBC was a wicked monster who wouldn’t pay up the monies required for the actors, he lied to me about the amount he used to earn at KBC,LIED to me about the ignominious manner in which they were kicked away and LIED to me of his struggle to walk to KBC everyday for lack of transport.
Ngomongo real name Armstrong Sobayeni.
I was later told that,indeed,Ngomongo used to WALK from Dandora to KBC studios in town. A whole lengthy distance that would kill a novice. But the greatest reason he would walk all the way, to and fro,day after day was because he would gobble up all of his fat salary on booze EVERYDAY.
Even as we spoke,Ngomongo was irredeemably drunk… He stunk of cheap,stale liquor and his eyes, throughout the interview,were typically bloodshot. From decades of unbridled drunkenness and wanton debauchery.
‘Ngomongo alimalizia doo yake yote kwa ulevi Boss… Hawa wasee walikuwa wanalipwa kama nonsense! Wasikuchoche…Hawa wasee walikuwa na doo… Ni tei (alcohol) iliwamaliza. Mi najua nimeishi na huyu jamaa hapa miaka kama kumi… Tukikunywa…. ‘ some drunk fellow told me as we sat in the bar after eventually ordering a beer. After the interview had wrapped up.
Ngomongo gave me such a pitiful story that it moved me. And I was touched to offer him some 300 shillings…’Nunua nyama Mzee… ‘ I told him,passing the 300 Bob to his gaunt hands. He pocketed the money in a huff. And thanked me profusely.
‘ Naona umempea doo… Ama!?’ the guy asked me. ‘Eeeh… Anunue ka-lunch Bana…’ I said.
Martin(Not his real name) laughed out loud.
‘Nyama gani!!? Hio doh ameipeleka bar saa hii… Huyu Mzee huwezi kaa Bila tei. Infact ni heri asikule lakini apewe kitu. Si uulize hawa madame uskie… ‘ Martin said pointing at the waitress who were gazing at us,idle and toying with bottle openers.
And that’s the same story when I talked to Ngomongo’s former colleagues at KBC.
‘Huyu Mzee alikuwa analipwa poa. Hizo story wanawapea ni story za uwongo. Wanatafuta sympathy kwa public. Wanaharibia KBC jina hawa wasee… Ni ulevi imewamaliza. Kwanza Mzee Ojwang ni worse! Hukunywa daily! Monday to Monday bro! Mi nimefanya job na hawa wazee for years bro…. ‘
‘Ojwang ameishi pub inaitwa Njuguini… Hapa tao. Kuna club huitwa Njuguini… Iko hapo opposite Ronald Ngala… Hapo kando ya Tuskys. Ojwang alichomea pesa yake yote hapo. Yote. Ojwang alikuwa anaingia Njuguini asubui anatoka kesho asubui ya saa tisa kukikucha. Enda Njuguini saa hii uulize uskie. Watakushow. Alichomea doo yake yote hapo na Ma-Tusker…. ‘
And true enough,I visited Njuguini bar yesterday,talked to quite a number of patrons,all of who were elderly and reeked of decayed beer and they all told me the same thing; Mzee Ojwang was a regular. Infact more than a regular.
Late Mzee Ojwang Hatari.
He was almost a permanent fixture in that dingy club,with worn out chairs, old posters,bad music and a coterie of rude grimacing waitresses.
‘Hapa ndio mshahara yote ya Ojwang ilikuwa inakam. Yote. Nilikuwa nakuja namkuta hapa… Naenda… Narudi kesho namkuta hapa.. Amelewa kama nonsense! Hawa wasee walijiwaste na tei mazee…. ‘
The story is the same with Tahidi High’s Omosh.
During its peak,Omosh was one of the biggest stars on Kenyan television. He was a genius.. With a role that resonated with millions of Kenyans. His character drew millions to him and Tahidi High was almost all about him.
The script,many an episode,revolved around his hilarious street-smart character and he would pull it out with the precision of Marlon Brando.
At some point,Omosh almost became a cult figure. And a ubiquitous face nationally.
But his decline was quick. Infact very quick.
‘Omosh alimalizwa na tei…’ A source told me. ‘Waaaah! Mnasemanga walevi… Omosh ndiye daktari. Huyu jamaa alikuwa anakata maji kama samaki Baba…. Doo yote ya Tahidi high iliishia kwa gauge…’
‘Infact saa zingine angehata shoot man. Mara mob sana amehata shoot. Juu ya pombe. Ama ana-show up late. Drunk and disorderly. Ma producers na ma-directors tu ndio wanajua. Omosh alikuwa disaster. Disaster Boss… ‘
According to my sources,Omosh has been collected a million times drunk and dead in dirty ditches and narrow trenches across Jogoo Road. He’d then be hauled from the burrows, drunk and wet,and wobbly-legged,helped to a waiting car and driven home.
Omosh Of Tahidi High
He’d then repeat the same thing tomorrow. And the day after tomorrow.
I was also told of a party that was held by Charity Kamau at her home in Kahawa Sukari to celebrate the wrapping up of the MACHACHARI shoot.
Nancy Kamau,the creator of Machachari,is also Omosh’s elder sister.
And on that party,all of the Omosh siblings were present. But not Omosh. Why wasn’t Omosh invited? It was roundly asked.
‘We avoided inviting him because of his drunkenness. Akikuja hapa atalewa na aharibu kila kitu. Hatutaki drama leo. That’s why he wasn’t invited… ‘ a family member candidly revealed.
Omosh it is said,blew all his hefty earnings at Citizen on booze,booze and more booze.
And he became a wreck… A laughable spectacle. And quite a piece of work.
Sources also told us that Former Churchill Show Comedian Marlboro is also going down quick.
‘Marlboro hupewa tei kama kila siku. Hata huwa hangoji weekend. Utakuta Marlboro amelewa kama nonsense na ni Tuesday. Ama Thursday! Thursday man! Marlboro amelewa maisha yake yote. Gauge ndio life yake…. ‘
We were told that Marlboro would even show up dead drunk for Churchill Show. And in the many instances he was picked to audition new comics,who would show up at Carnival every Tuesday,He’d always show up drunk. Very unbearably drunk.
‘ Nimeenda auditions za Churchill. Mara mob. Marlboro ndiye alikuwa ana-audition wasee. Man,huyo jamaa alikuwa amelewa throughout. Throughout. Hata hakusikizi. Jamaa amelewa amezubaa tu. Unachapa mistari kali jamaa amezubaa tu. Hata hacheki. Ako hangover mbaya. Ati na ana-ku-audition. Maze!’
Malboro Of Churchill Live
We were also told of a story involving Omosh of Tahidi High. According to the sources,Omosh was once invited to Nakuru to MC a public function.
Upon arrival,Omosh was met by his co-host,a lady,who tehn told him that he would be hosting the event with her and that he would be paid AFTER the event.
But to keep him going,’Here’s some two thousand bob…Shikilia hii incase you need anything. Utalipwa baadaye.’ His co-host told him.
Omosh took the 2 thousand bob in a huff. And said ‘Sawa…’ as he left…
Next thing the lady knew,Omosh had collapsed behind one of the event tents. Drunk as hell. He had blown up the two thousand bob in less than 45 minutes.
On nothing bust booze. Speed booze.
Needless to say,He didn’t get around to eventually hosting the event. Or even walking himself home.
Absolute shame.
I shall leave you with this gem of a quote,regarding alcoholism,from American Author Craig Ferguson.
