Kenyan music icon Mejja has shared a rare and personal look into his private life. Speaking on the Boxpod TV podcast with host Kwambox, the veteran artist revealed his daily struggles with mental health.
He spoke candidly about living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety.
Mejja has been a staple in the Kenyan music scene for 19 years. Despite his fame, he admitted that he had dealt with these conditions since his school days. He chose to share his story to be open with his fans during Mental Health Month.
The Battle With OCD
The musician explained that his version of OCD is not about cleaning or tidiness. Instead, it involves numbers and repetitive physical routines. He described how these compulsions affect his simplest tasks.
"Si unaona unaniangalia unavyoangalia kitu kuna OCD kuna watu wanasema kuna ile OCD ya kusafisha na kuna yangu ni numbers," Mejja said.
One specific example he gave was entering a car. If he does not enter the vehicle in a specific way, he feels forced to start over. This often happens multiple times before he can settle.
To manage this in public, Mejja often chooses not to drive himself. He explained that having a driver helps him avoid looking "weird" to onlookers.
"Navoid kudrive ndio nisikae weird sasa kama si ukiniambia ati si ukuje nimeingia nimetoka nimeingia," he admitted.
Sleepless Nights and Anxiety
Mejja also revealed that he suffers from severe anxiety. This condition is most intense when he is preparing to release new music. Even after nearly two decades in the industry, the "Siaka" hitmaker still experiences "noma" (tough) levels of stress.
He described the night before a song launch as a time of great tension. He often stays in bed but cannot find sleep.
"Hiyo siku inafaa kutoka naweza kupromise yaani niko kwa bed ndio niko kwa bed lakini sijalala wangu kidogo kupray nakuanga mse niko anxious," he told Kwambox.
"I think nilikuwa nayo but sikuwa najua."
Growing Up With the Conditions
Reflecting on his childhood, Mejja noted that he displayed symptoms of OCD even as a student. He recalled feeling a constant need to check his school box to ensure it was locked. At the time, he did not understand that these were signs of a mental health disorder.
