Anti-drugs and Substance Abuse official Chipukeezy was once a boda-boda operator who supplied illicit brew in his hometown Tala in Machakos.
He says he did it as a way to make a living and get himself out of poverty. It was right after his high school education in Tala and Masii High Schools.
“After high school, I became a boda-boda rider and my work was also to transport chang’aa to different places at our home,” Chipukeezy told Word Is.
The NACADA board member said he quit the hustle after he was involved in an accident that left him injured. “It rained so heavily and I fell with the boda, but I was also tired of living in shags,” he said.
Chipukeezy then moved to Nairobi where he began going for auditions and acting on set books. He was also a student at East African School of Media Studies.
“I have travelled to so many schools because my work was to act in set books,” Chipukeezy said, adding it was a good platform for him to build himself in the industry.
He harbored dreams of starring in ‘Tahidi High’ and becoming a comedy guru like his mentor Daniel Ndambuki alias Churchill.
His advice to people is to be open about alcohol and substance abuse. “Let us tell the children the truth about it so they have the knowledge before they get to a point they are now abusing it.”
“I can go back to my village with authority and tell people the truth about drugs. That is part of my life that I am not shy about, and I will always want to speak about my past to inspire someone else,” he said.
