Former Machachari Actress Cindy Opens Up About Alcohol Addiction and Journey to Sobriety

Former Machachari actress Clara Wamaitha, popularly known as Cindy or Mama Stella, has opened up about her battle with alcohol addiction and how her time on the popular Kenyan TV show contributed to her drinking spiralling out of control.

Cindy shared her experience in an emotional TikTok video, reflecting on how what began as casual social drinking eventually developed into a serious problem that affected several areas of her life.

‘It started as fun’

Cindy said she initially drank socially, particularly during outings with friends.

However, she explained that her drinking increased after she landed a role on Machachari. The popularity of the show exposed her to a different lifestyle, and what had initially been recreational drinking gradually became something she struggled to control.

“Ulianza na starehe. Ulianza kukunywa starehe. Ikafika mahali sasa ni wewe iyo starehe inakunywa,” she said.

The actress recalled reaching a point where she was drinking throughout the week, describing a period when she would drink from Monday to Monday.

Her drinking also began affecting her daily routine. Cindy said she would miss meals, lose sleep and neglect some of her responsibilities as her dependence on alcohol intensified.

Addiction affected her relationships and finances

Cindy also spoke about the wider impact of her drinking, saying it affected her relationships, finances and mental wellbeing.

She described addiction as an illness that can gradually take control of a person’s life before they fully recognise the seriousness of the problem.

According to the actress, people close to her tried to point out that she had a problem, but she would become defensive whenever the subject was raised.

Cindy said she is now approaching four years of sobriety, with December 9 marking an important milestone in her recovery journey.

She also encouraged families dealing with addiction to continue supporting their loved ones, arguing that people struggling with alcohol dependence should not simply be abandoned.

Cindy’s life after Machachari

Cindy became a familiar face on Kenyan television through her role as Mama Stella on Machachari, where she played Stella’s mother.

The show became one of Kenya’s popular local television dramas before ending in 2019.

Cindy has previously spoken about other challenges in her life, including living with vitiligo after her time on the show.

In her latest video, however, she focused on her experience with alcohol addiction and the journey that eventually led her to sobriety.