Former Tahidi High actor and content creator Bilal Wanjau, popularly known to millions as Webster Jnr, has passed away following diabetes-related complications, actress Sandra Dacha confirmed on Wednesday evening. The 34-year-old entertainer, whose cheeky classroom antics as the mischievous Webster made him a household name in the early 2010s, died at Avenue Hospital in Nairobi, where he had been admitted for the past week.
Sandra, who co-starred with him in several skits after the end of Tahidi High, posted a tearful video on Instagram, expressing her condolences for her brother. You were pure talent, one of the best this industry ever had. Gone too soon.”
News of the death spread rapidly across Kenyan social media, trending nationwide within minutes. Fans flooded comment sections with memories of his famous catchphrases like “Teacher Omosh, si unipe chance” and clips of him pranking classmates in the iconic Citizen TV high-school drama that ran from 2006 to 2014.
Fellow cast members led the tributes. Dennis Mugo (OJ) wrote, “He was my little brother from another mother.” You fought hard, champ. Heaven has gained the funniest angel.” Shirley (Jackie) posted a throwback photo from the set, adding, “We grew up together on that Tahidi corridor. I still can’t believe you’re gone.”
Bilal had been open about his battle with diabetes recently. In a 2023 YouTube interview with Presenter Ali, he revealed he was diagnosed at 27 and had undergone partial amputation of two toes after severe foot ulcers.
Despite the challenges, he remained active online, building a new audience through comedy skits on TikTok and Instagram, where he had over 420,000 followers. His last post, uploaded just ten days ago, showed him dancing in hospital pyjamas with the caption, “Diabetes will not steal my joy.”
Family sources, yet awaiting official confirmation, in Machakos confirmed the burial will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025, at their rural home in Katheka Kai, Mumbuni Location, strictly according to Islamic rites. The body is expected to leave Avenue Hospital mortuary at 7 a.m. for prayers at Jamia Mosque in Nairobi before the journey to Machakos.
His elder brother, speaking on the phone, requested privacy but thanked fans for the overwhelming support, saying, “Bilal read every comment you wrote when he was sick. Your love kept him going.”
Celebrities and brands that worked with him in recent brand endorsements lined up to mourn. SportPesa, for whom he shot a popular football skit series, announced they would cater for the full funeral expenses as a gesture of gratitude.
Former Tahidi High producer Catherine Wamuyu said the entire original cast planned to attend in uniform as a final tribute to their “little troublemaker”.
Born in Eastleigh and raised in Machakos, Bilal joined Tahidi High at age 16 while still a student at Sunshine Secondary School. Teachers recall him as naturally gifted, often turning detention sessions into impromptu comedy shows.
After the show ended, he tried music under the stage name B-Wanjau, releasing tracks like “Mapenzi Digital” before pivoting fully to digital content in 2020. Friends say he leaves behind a young daughter, Amina, aged six, whom he frequently featured in father-daughter dance challenges.
As the country prepares to lay Webster Jnr to rest this Friday, one sentiment dominates timelines: a bright light that taught an entire generation how to laugh at teenage chaos has been extinguished far too early. Rest in peace, Bilal Wanjau.
