8 Kenyan celebrities battling chronic ailments

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8 Kenyan celebrities battling chronic ailments

By Winnie Mabel September 14th, 2022 3 min read

Not many Kenyan celebrities talk about the ailments they are battling – secretly.

However, there is a number who come out to talk about it. In the process, they create awareness of the conditions.

Here are 8 Kenyan celebrities who have opened up about their battles with chronic ailments.

Anita Nderu

The bubbly television and radio media personality revealed she has been battling seizures since January 2020 after a nasty episode left her with a shoulder bone fractured in four places.

“I suffer from seizures occasionally. Started this year in January, had four so far. My 2nd and 3rd one were so hectic during that I shattered my right arms humerus into four pieces which were put back together using a titanium plate,” said Anita.

Seizures occur when there is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance to the brain.

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Gladys Gachanja

The former prime-time news television anchor revealed she suffers from Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) which often left her skin red and itchy.

Her son also suffers from the same condition. Common triggers for this ailment include soaps, changes in weather, dust, pollen and mould among other irritants.

Kate Actress before and after after her weight loss surgery. PHOTOS | COURTESY

Catherine Kamau alias Kate Actress

The actress revealed she had hyperpigmentation during her second pregnancy when the skin around her neck turned unbelievably dark.

Hers was classified as melisma- one brought on by hormonal changes and may develop during pregnancy.

There has been no guarantee that the condition “fades” and there is no known cure.

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Akuku Danger

Comedian Manason Ojowi alias Akuku Danger was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia during his childhood.

He has been in and out of the hospital in various stages requiring critical care.

At one point, his lungs collapsed and his friends held a national funds drive to help him offset his treatment bills.

This is an illness whereby red blood cells function abnormally by not carrying oxygen throughout the body.

Njambi Koikai

The media personality suffers from endometriosis, a painful condition where tissue that is similar to those that normally grow in the uterus grows outside the uterus.

These tissues were found in Njambi’s lungs (the right one frequently collapsed) and this led to other complications with her heart and dental formula. She has been battling the ailment since 2016.

Jeremy Kiuna

The son of renowned pastors Allan and Kathy Kiuna, Jeremy was diagnosed with Celebral Palsy at the age of three which left him unable to walk.

CP is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture.

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Mama Stella of Machachari show

Born Clara Wamaitha, Mama Stella revealed she is battling with vitiligo, a condition in which skin pigment is lost and the appearance becomes whitish pink for those with dark skin.

Wamaitha said the ailment drove her into depression as she had no finances to treat the condition, no job and no medical care.

Ciroc Brand Ambassadors Joy Kendi (left) and Kagwe Mungai during the Fashion High Tea held at the Zen Garden on February 9, 2019. PHOTO | FILE

Influencer Joy Kendi

The fashion and travel influencer revealed she was diagnosed with dyslexia at around age 11.

This is a condition that affects one’s learning ability whereby one has problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words.

Nairobi News