Curse of fame and money among arts and sports personalities

Kenyan content creator and radio presenter Azziad Nasenya has in recent times been the subject of discussion following allegations that she owes some people huge sums of money.

These accusations surfaced after blogger Edgar Obare shared messages from anonymous sources accusing Azziad of borrowing money and failing to repay.

In the heat of things, Azziad’s old interview clip with filmmaker Phil Karanja resurfaced, where she shared her perspective on borrowing money.

In the interview, she stated that she prefers earning her own income rather than seeking financial assistance.

“There is satisfaction in making money from your own hard work. I sleep well knowing that I made that Sh50 on my own. I don’t know how to beg, and I never want to put myself in a position where I have to,” said Azziad.

Following the emergence of debt claims, this video has been referenced in discussions about her financial situation.

Obare had alleged that Azziad had borrowed Ksh 400,000 from a close friend, with a promise to repay within three days. However, according to the claims, the amount remained unpaid even after several months.

He also shared purported voice recordings of a distressed individual, alleged to be Azziad, speaking about financial struggles.

Also, TikToker Mary Musyoka alleged that Azziad owes her Ksh 300,000. These allegations have led to online discussions about Azziad’s finances and public image, adding to the claims that these situations had led her to depression.

Our efforts to have her or her manager Peter Kawa’s comment on the allegations were futile, as they hadn’t responded to our inquiries by the time of publishing this story.

If at all the alleged situation is true, Azziad is not alone in the depression ship that continues to on-board many creatives. Many players in the arts field have found themselves in such situations.

Popular content creator and comedian Henry DeSagu (real name Ithagu Kibicho) has for months now been battling alcoholism and depression, which is said to have emanated from his dwindling fortunes.

Three weeks ago, a section of his fans and well-wishers, led by Gatundu North MP Elijah Kururia, came together to raise Ksh 1 million, after the comedian was admitted at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital in Nairobi.

Known for his wit and relatable humour, DeSagu has been a popular figure in the Kenyan entertainment scene for his comedic sketches and online presence.

“We will not watch as this great boychild, Henry DeSagu, whose comedy brings laughter to all of us, is brought down by depression and alcoholism. We will pray for his recovery, have him get quality medical attention and get our lively Desagu back,” Kururia wrote on his social media pages.

Such instances cast a dark cloud over Kenya’s creative industry, with many people questioning how people in the arts space (including sports, music, comedy, content creation and film) usually find themselves in the pit of hopelessness and depression, after finding fame and money, or even worse, going broke.

Actor Joseph Kinuthia, popularly known as Omosh from the hit TV school drama show Tahidi High, found himself lost in alcoholism and hopelessness. This was after finding the fame and presumably, money.

“As an actor in Tahidi High, I used to drink 10 beers on a daily basis without feeling any effect. Being a public figure, I would often frequent parties, functions or clubs upon invitation by friends or various organisations who offered free drinks,” Omosh told a local publication in a past interview.

He added: “Before I knew it I became a frequent visitor at various wines and spirits outlets where I would source for cheap hard liquor in the name of mzinga (700 mililitre bottle) at the cost of Ksh 500 daily with or without money.”

Omosh said on many occasions he went on a borrowing spree just to satisfy his urge for alcohol. It took the intervention of well-wishers to have him back on the track.

Although it has remained controversial and debatable, former Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru died on May 15, 2011, from injuries sustained after a fall from a balcony at his home, after a drinking spree.

It is alleged that after finding fortunes from his running prowess, Wanjiru couldn’t keep up with the “new life” of fame and money. The bottle became his closest friend.

In 2023, after a long period of legal wrangling and numerous setbacks, the inquest into his death finally concluded. The court found that Wanjiru’s death was accidental, with large amounts of alcohol contributing to the fatal incident.

Another former Olympic champion Wilfred Bungei, after finding fame and money, and eventual retirement, the 2008 Beijing Olympics 800m champion got into alcoholism. However, after finding himself in many dangerous situations, Bungei eventually managed to shed off his drinking habit.

But many questions arise. Is it financial illiteracy among players in the arts industry, or a psychological effect of fame and money that lead them into such unfortunate state?

Monicah Simbwa, a counsellor, says a combination of many things leads to such people finding themselves in such situations.

“Yes, financial illiteracy is among them, but you’ll find other factors such as family pressures and peer influence leading to such unfortunate situations,” she says.

She adds that the first step to healing is always accepting that one has a problem that requires intervention.

“After identifying the problem, one has to willingly accept that they have an issue that needs to be solved. That is is always the first step towards finding the solution. Such a person requires a lot of support and love, which come in handy in their journey to recovery,” Simbwa says.