# Eric Omondi

Eric Omondi (born 9 March 1982) is a Kenyan comedian and actor. He made his comedy debut in Churchill Show, a comedy show that airs on NTV in 2008. He has since won three African Entertainment Awards USA for 'Best Comedian' in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

## Early life and education

Omondi is the second-born in a family of four in Kisumu County. He attended Kondele primary school then Kisumu Boys High School. He later joined Daystar University and pursued a course in Mass Communication and Journalism.

## Marriages and family

Omondi had once promised to marry his Italian girlfriend Shantal following their public engagement after being together for nearly five years. However, in 2018 the couple announced their breakup.

## Career

Omondi started his career with a brief stint as a news reporter for NTV Kenya before meeting Daniel Ndambuki in 2006. He broke into the limelight in 2008 after he made an appearance on NTV's Churchill Show. In 2015, he left the show, to host his own show called Hawayuni, which aired on KTN but was short-lived. He also did ‘Somewhere in Africa’ and ‘Untamed’.
In March 2017, Omondi became the first Kenyan ever to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
In 2020, he introduced a controversial show dubbed 'Wife Material' with its first season coming to an end with a wedding with Band Beca's Carol. The second season featured women from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda which saw him arrested. The show was later suspended by the Kenya Film and Classification Board (KFCB). Omondi was awarded the title of Comedian of the Year by African Entertainment Awards, USA (AEAUSA) for a third consecutive time in 2020.
Omondi has since expressed his interest to get into politics.

## Activism

In February 2023, Omondi with 16 other people demonstrated against the high cost of living outside Parliament, Nairobi Kenya. They were charged with taking part in an unlawful assembly. They were later released with cash bail of KES 10,000 each.
Eric Omondi was also arrested by police on April 26, 2023 while protesting against unemployment and high cost of living in Kisumu. In the incident, Omondi led a group of protestors, with majority of them being university students, in the streets of Kisumu protesting the persistent unemployment affecting most graduates in the Kenyan society. Anti-riot police arrested the comedian and hurled tear gas canisters to disperse the peaceful protestors.

## Awards

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 2018 | African Entertainment Awards USA | Best African Comedian | Himself | Won |
| 2019 | African Entertainment Awards USA | Best African Comedian | Himself | Won |
| 2019 | African Entertainment Awards USA | African King Of Comedy | Himself | Won |
| 2019 | African Entertainment Awards USA | Best Host | Himself | Nominated |
| 2020 | African Entertainment Awards USA | Best African Comedian | Himself | Won |
| 2021 | African Entertainment Awards USA | Media Personality of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2021 | African Entertainment Awards USA | Social Media Influencer of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2021 | African Entertainment Awards USA | Best African Comedian | Himself | Nominated |