Back in June this year, Eric Omondi lost his eldest brother, Joseph Omondi Onyango who died from cocaine addiction.
Eric Omondi who is 10 years younger to the late Joseph Omondi, is the second born having come from a family of three boys and one girl. His siblings include fellow comedian Fred Omondi who is the last born.
Upon his dear brother's loss, Omondi took to his social media to share the horrifying details about his elder brother.
He wrote:
“IF YOU ARE A YOUNG PERSON AND YOU FOLLOW THIS ACCOUNT… THIS IS FOR YOU!!! THIS IS MY BLOOD BROTHER JOSEPH OMONDI (SAME FATHER SAME MOTHER)… HE IS THE FIRSTBORN, I AM THE SECOND BORN… OUR THIRD BORN IS IRENE OMONDI AND THE LAST BORN IS FRED OMONDI. JOSEPH HAS STRUGGLED WITH DRUG ADDICTION SINCE HIGH SCHOOL… HE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF REHABILITATION. WE HAVE TRIED OUR BEST AS A FAMILY. BECAUSE OF HIS ADDICTION, HE HAS A TENDENCY TO RUN AWAY FROM US TO AVOID REHABILITATION. I TRACKED HIM YESTERDAY THROUGH A TAXI GUY WHO SPOTTED HIM IN NAIROBI DOWNTOWN ALONG NYANDARUA ROAD. @CHIPUKEEZY AND NACADA HAVE PROMISED TO HELP HIM,” HE WROTE IN PART.
He added:
“IF YOU ARE READING THIS NA UKO HIGH SCHOOL AMA COLLE NA USHAANZA KUONJA HIZO VITU JUA TU KUNA TIME HAUTAWEZA KULALA BILA HIZO VITU.”
Since then, Eric has not been vocal about the sudden loss but opened up about it all on Thursday when he was hosted by Radio Jambo mid-morning host, Massawe Japanni.
Below is an excerpt from the interview.
Massawe: I am sorry you recently lost your brother, how was that about?
Eric Omondi: My brother Joseph Omondi Onyango was addicted to crack cocaine which I think is the fake cocaine in a layman's language. He was addicted to it for 19-years and literally that is what killed him.
We tried to take him to a rehabilitation centre, I was with Chipukeezy when we found him the night before he passed as we tried to help him reform but the next morning he was gone.
Massawe: On social media we read stuff like you as his famous brother, was not there for him when he really needed you and perhaps if you started taking him to a rehabilitation centre as early as possible, maybe he wouldn't be where he was.
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Omondi: Let me educate Kenyans; Drug addiction is beyond deep and it has to come from the addicted and not from the addicted's family. My elder brother started using drugs while I was in form one and by the time I was not even aware of what I was doing he was already addicted.
Even when we took him to rehab, it was our decision and not his. Most families that have drug addicted members I understand they are always blamed.
Did you see how my brother looked like before he died? He looked like a street urchin, so can you imagine every time he met someone random with an intent to help him, he identifies himself as Eric Omondi's brother.
First they confirm whether am his brother then call me to insult me for letting him sleep in the streets while I am having fun with my girlfriend in Dubai. So people do not understand.
Listen to the entire interview below.