Comedian and activist Eric Omondi has spoken candidly about the lasting pain of losing close family members, revealing that grief remains an everyday reality for him years after the deaths occurred.
Speaking during a recent appearance on the Chris the Bass podcast, Omondi shared deeply personal reflections on loss, admitting that some wounds never fully heal.
During the conversation, Omondi explained that although he has experienced multiple bereavements in his life, the death of his younger brother Fred Omondi continues to affect him the most.
He described the loss as something he has learned to live with rather than overcome, challenging the common belief that time automatically heals emotional pain.
“I’ve lost many people in my family,” Omondi said on the podcast, referencing the deaths of his parents and an older brother. “But Fred hit me differently.”
Fred Omondi, who was also a comedian, died in a road accident in June 2024. The tragedy shocked Kenya’s entertainment industry and left a deep void in Eric Omondi’s life.
On the podcast, Omondi explained that the pain stems not only from losing a sibling, but from losing someone who shared his journey.
According to Omondi, he and Fred grew up together, moved to Nairobi together, and pursued comedy side by side.
Their lives were intertwined both personally and professionally, making the loss especially difficult to process.
“He wasn’t just my brother,” Omondi said. “He was my friend. We struggled together. We dreamed together.”
The comedian revealed that even after months of public mourning and private reflection, the reality of Fred’s absence still feels unreal at times.
He admitted that there are moments when he chooses not to confront the pain directly because of how overwhelming it can be.
“Sometimes I just ignore it,” he said. “Not because I don’t care, but because it’s too heavy.”
Omondi also spoke about advice he received from an aunt following Fred’s death — advice that reshaped how he views grief. According to him, she told him that some losses never truly heal, and that acceptance, not closure, is often the only path forward.
“That stayed with me,” Omondi shared. “Because people keep telling you it will be okay. But some things don’t become okay. You just learn how to live with them.”
At one point in the conversation, Omondi acknowledged that people often expect public figures to “be strong” and move on quickly.
He said that expectation can be isolating, especially when the pain persists long after condolences stop coming.
“People think time fixes everything,” he said. “But grief doesn’t work like that.”
The discussion also touched on the loneliness that can accompany loss. Omondi explained that while support from fans and friends has helped, it cannot replace the bond he shared with his brother.
“People mean well,” he said, “but no one can fill that space.”
“I don’t think healing means forgetting,” he said. “It just means learning how to live.”