When Kevin Mwachilimu took his first puff of a cigar, he was barely 10 years old.
He remembers the moment clearly. He had gone to visit a cousin when they stumbled upon cigars tucked inside their uncle’s jacket. Curious and eager to appear bold, the two boys decided to try them.
During an interview at Biblia Husema Broadcasting (BHB) breakfast program, Hossana Macheo hosted by Victor Mandala on Thursday 12th March, 2026, Kevin revealed how he started off smoking.
“At that age it looked like swag,” Kevin recalls. “You wanted to feel like part of the clique and not be left out.”
The experience was anything but glamorous. The first puff triggered intense coughing fits, but the thrill of doing something forbidden had already planted a seed.
That moment marked the beginning of a long and secretive relationship with tobacco and drugs-one that would follow him through his teenage years and nearly cost him his life.
A Secret Life
By the time Kevin joined Form One in high school, smoking had become more common in his social circles. During mid-term breaks and school holidays, he and friends would indulge in drugs before heading home.
They would head home aboard matatus known as nganyas -flashy public service vehicles blasting loud music.
“We would indulge while on the way home,” he says.
Despite the growing habit, Kevin managed to keep it hidden from his family.
“I am a very secretive person and before anyone knows anything about me then I have chosen to let them know,” he says.
Even while living under his parents’ roof, they remained unaware that their son was battling addiction.
A Growing Public Health Crisis
Kevin’s story mirrors a worrying trend in Kenya and across Africa.
According to the Director of Den of Hope, Community Based Organisation in Eastleigh Nairobi, David Odhiambo, tobacco use continues to claim millions of lives worldwide.
“Eight million people die annually because of tobacco-related illness,” Odhiambo says. “In Kenya alone, about 12,000 people die every year due to tobacco-related diseases.”
Tobacco contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance that makes quitting extremely difficult once dependence develops.
Even more alarming is the age at which children are beginning to experiment with tobacco products.
Research by Data and Youth in Tobacco in Africa indicates that children as young as six years old are already using such products.
Odhiambo warns that tobacco is a leading contributor to non-communicable diseases including diabetes, high blood pressure and respiratory illnesses.
“Almost 50 percent of hospital admissions in Kenya are due to non-communicable diseases,” he says. “These illnesses account for at least 40 percent of deaths.”
Many people assume certain tobacco products are safer than others, but experts say the risks remain the same.
“A cigar contains more than 6,000 toxic chemicals harmful to the human body,” Odhiambo explains. “Some of these chemicals are used in the manufacture of mosquito repellents, and at least 70 are carcinogenic.”
The cost of treatment for tobacco-related illnesses is also staggering. Treating lung cancer can cost around Sh2.3 million, yet the Social Health Authority (SHA) covers only up to Sh600,000.
The Turning Point
For Kevin, the addiction continued into university.
With newfound freedom, his drug use intensified. At times, he would even indulge during lectures.
But in December 2021, his body began to send warning signs.
A friend noticed his dramatically shrinking frame and asked if he was okay. Days later, Kevin developed a fever and persistent vomiting.
Concerned, he sought medical help at a health center.
During the consultation, the doctor asked a simple but direct question: did he indulge in drugs?
The doctor warned Kevin that his left lung had already been severely damaged and advised him to stop immediately. Further tests revealed he had tuberculosis (TB).
Before treatment could begin, he had to undergo a HIV test. The results came back negative -but the relief was quickly overshadowed by another frightening warning.
The doctor told him that if he continued using drugs while undergoing the six-month TB treatment, he might not survive the medication period.
Kevin did not take the warning lightly.
“The doctor said I risked vomiting my liver if I mixed tobacco with the TB medicine,” he recalls.
A Haunting Memory
The warning reminded Kevin of a disturbing scene he had once witnessed along Juja Road in Nairobi.
He had seen a man collapse after vomiting lumps of blood. Curious, he later learned the man was a heavy smoker who reportedly consumed two packets of cigarettes a day.
That memory reinforced the doctor’s warning and strengthened his resolve to quit.
Kevin committed himself fully to recovery – staying away from drugs, eating healthier foods and exercising regularly.
Six months later, tests showed little to no traces of tuberculosis in his body.
A Message to Parents
Today, Kevin considers himself a reformed addict.
He shares his story as a cautionary tale for young people and as a reminder for parents to stay alert.
Health experts say early warning signs of drug abuse can include sudden changes in behaviour, secrecy, withdrawal from family members and declining academic performance.
Odhiambo urges parents and teachers to educate themselves about the many forms tobacco products now take.
“Tobacco products come in different forms, but the dangers are the same,” he says. “Some are flavoured to attract young users, but they are just as harmful.”
For Kevin, the battle against addiction has been difficult – but the second chance he received is something he refuses to waste.
“I realized I had to choose life,” he says. “And that meant walking away from everything that was destroying me.”
