Kenyan comedian and content creator Lawrence Macharia, popularly known as Terence Creative, has once again laid bare the struggles of his past, sharing fresh reflections on his battles with addiction.
In a recent post and circulating on his Facebook page within the last 24 hours, the entertainer spoke candidly about how destructive habits nearly cost him his health, dignity, and marriage.
Terence admitted that addiction held him hostage for years, painting a raw picture of just how deeply entrenched he was in smoking, shisha, and gambling.
He described the struggle as both physical and emotional, recounting days when his body was drained and nights when guilt kept him awake.
“I was not living, I was surviving,” he wrote in one of his posts. “Addiction takes everything from you and leaves you empty. I lost money, respect, opportunities — even the simple joy of being close to my family.”
Terence went further to outline the habits that defined those years of struggle. He admitted to smoking cigarettes and shisha heavily, often convincing himself that the substances helped boost his creativity. In hindsight, he now calls that belief a dangerous lie.
He confessed that smoking left him with stained teeth, bleeding gums, and a constant odor that made him self-conscious. More painfully, it affected his relationship with his wife, Milly Chebby. “At some point, I couldn’t kiss my wife because of the smell. That was how bad it got,” he noted.
Beyond smoking, Terence revealed that gambling was another destructive force in his life. He admitted to losing large sums of money, including savings meant for family projects and even rent. In his words, gambling was a “silent thief” that left him ashamed and constantly trying to cover up his losses.
“I gambled away so much that I can never get back,” he said. “Land money, car money — it all went. I thought I was in control, but addiction was in control of me.”
In one of his most moving confessions, Terence traced his addictive habits back to the struggles of his childhood.
Losing his mother at nine years old and growing up in Mathare, he said survival often meant doing whatever it took. Those early years, marked by insecurity and hardship, planted seeds of escape through habits that would later haunt him.
“I grew up in the streets. I learned survival the hard way. But some of the things I turned to ended up controlling me instead,” he shared.
Terence emphasized that quitting was not a clean, overnight success. He described relapses, cravings, and days when the desire to give in was overwhelming. What made the difference, he said, was admitting the problem, leaning on his wife for support, and drawing strength from his faith.
“I tried many times and failed,” he admitted. “But I refused to give up on myself. Every time I fell, I stood up again. Today, I can say I am free, and it is one of the greatest achievements of my life.”