From A Drug Addict To A Radio King

From A Drug Addict To A Radio King

Dominic Ngori, better known to his listeners as Coco, stumbled onto radio by sheer luck.

Beneath Coco's raspy voice and hearty laugh is a man who managed to kick a drug habit that robbed him off his earlier years to rise to helm of Kenyan urban radio.

A drug addict for 15 years, Coco only started working aged 32.

“I got my identification card when I was 30,” says a candid Coco. “I was a spoilt brat. I never did any odd jobs to support my drug habit.”

Coco says he has always been a smooth talker, a man who could talk himself out of any situation.

“Someone suggested I try radio, so that's how I got into this,” says the radio presenter.

Coco, fresh out of rehab, landed a few radio jobs before he finally came to Hot 96FM.

STARTED AS AN INTERN

He was an intern for four months before his boss allowed him to get on air, starting with the late night show.

His late night show was a huge success which led him to mid-morning.

A high school dropout, Coco says the only regret he has, is in the time he lost.

“If I had to do it all over again, I would do it the same way. My experiences got me to this point. I would not change a thing,” said he.

“'I needed some tough love,” says Coco in retrospect.

Now, Coco spends most of his free time at various rehab centres, talking to young people who want to kick their drug habit.

“I don't want them to waste so much time like I did,” he says.

Now, Coco’s main focus is in being the best in what he does.

“I want to be number one,” he says.

By Maureen Murimi 

Camerawork by Jackson Njehia 

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