Kenyan music star Mejja has opened up about his long-standing struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety, revealing how the conditions continue to affect his daily life despite nearly two decades in the entertainment industry.
Speaking on the Boxpod TV podcast hosted by Kwambox during Mental Health Month, the celebrated artist shared a deeply personal account of living with the mental health conditions, saying he has experienced the symptoms since his school days.
Mejja, who has been in the Kenyan music industry for 19 years, said he decided to speak publicly about his experience to encourage openness around mental health.
Living With OCD
The musician explained that his form of OCD is different from the commonly known obsession with cleanliness or orderliness. Instead, his condition revolves around numbers and repetitive routines that he feels compelled to complete in a particular way.
“Si unaona unaniangalia unavyoangalia kitu kuna OCD kuna watu wanasema kuna ile OCD ya kusafisha na kuna yangu ni numbers,” Mejja said.
He revealed that even routine activities, such as getting into a car, can become difficult if he does not perform them in a specific sequence.
“So unakuta for example kama there’s a certain way nafaa niingie kwa gari nikiingia vile sifai natoka hata niingie tena.”
According to the artist, he may find himself repeating the same action several times before feeling comfortable enough to continue.
How He Manages It
Mejja said he has developed ways of coping with the condition, including choosing not to drive himself in many situations.
He explained that having a driver helps him avoid drawing attention while managing his compulsive routines, noting that repeatedly getting in and out of a vehicle could appear unusual to people around him.
By sharing his story, Mejja hopes to create greater awareness about mental health and encourage more people living with similar conditions to seek understanding and support.
