Eric Omondi has revealed that he returned viral internet sensation Henry Omondi, popularly known as the “JKIA Boy,” to school for the third time after the teenager left the institution on his own. The revelation came after Henry reportedly accused the comedian of abandoning him and failing to pay his school fees. Eric addressed the claims publicly in a TikTok video posted on October 7, 2026, where he shared footage from Henry’s school and spoke about the teenager’s repeated departures. The comedian also involved the school’s principal, who gave an account of Henry’s admission and his time at the institution. The latest development has shifted attention from claims of unpaid fees to questions about why Henry repeatedly left school despite having his basic needs provided.
According to Eric Omondi, Henry had not simply left school once before being brought back. He said the teenager had left on three separate occasions and that he had personally made efforts to return him to school each time. Eric’s account directly challenges the impression that Henry had been abandoned after receiving support. The video included footage from the school compound as well as an interview with the institution’s principal, identified as Principal Ndere TVET. Eric appeared determined to establish what had happened by allowing the school administration to explain Henry’s circumstances.
The school principal confirmed that Henry was admitted on September 2, 2024. He said the teenager received the basic support he needed from the time he joined the institution, including food. The principal specifically stated that Henry was never sent home by the school over fees. According to his account, Henry made the decision to leave the school himself rather than being forced out because of unpaid fees. This account is significant because it contradicts the suggestion that financial difficulties at the school were responsible for Henry’s absence.
The principal also described an incident in which a school watchman noticed Henry at the gate as he attempted to leave the institution. When the guard tried to stop him and bring him back, the teenager reportedly ran towards a nearby river. He was eventually retrieved and taken back to the school office. The incident provides further context to the school’s claim that Henry’s departure was voluntary. It also shows that school staff had attempted to prevent him from leaving rather than pushing him out of the institution.
Henry had apparently agreed at one point to return to school and complete his studies. The principal said there was even an understanding that the teenager would come back and graduate in March. However, Henry later disappeared again. This meant that efforts to keep him in school had to be repeated. Eric’s decision to take him back for a third time therefore came after several attempts to get the teenager to remain in education.
Eric Omondi also turned his attention to people in Henry’s community. The comedian cautioned residents against giving the teenager pocket money whenever they found him in town instead of attending school. Eric argued that giving Henry cash could make it easier for him to remain away from school. His comments appeared to reflect frustration with a situation in which community members may have been trying to help the teenager without addressing the larger problem. Eric urged them to consider whether their assistance was encouraging Henry to stay out of school.
The issue has attracted attention because Henry became widely known after videos of him at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport circulated online. His nickname, “JKIA Boy,” became associated with his viral story and the public interest that followed. Eric Omondi subsequently became involved in efforts to support his education. That relationship has now come under scrutiny after Henry reportedly claimed that Eric had abandoned him and failed to pay his school fees. Eric’s latest response suggests that he believes the central issue is not a lack of financial support but Henry’s repeated decision to leave school.
The principal’s account provides an important piece of information about Henry’s school situation. If the school administration’s account is accurate, Henry had access to food and other basic needs after his admission in September 2024. The principal also explicitly denied that the school had sent him away because of fees. However, the public statements do not by themselves explain every reason behind Henry’s decisions to leave. The teenager’s own perspective remains relevant to understanding why he repeatedly chose to leave the institution.
Eric’s latest intervention also highlights the difficulties that can arise when public figures become involved in supporting vulnerable young people. Financial assistance can address immediate needs such as school fees, food and accommodation, but it does not automatically resolve personal, family, social or educational challenges. Henry’s repeated departures show that keeping a young person in school can require more than simply paying expenses. It can also involve consistent supervision, communication and support from the school, family and wider community.
The disagreement has also created a wider conversation about how members of the public respond to viral personalities. Henry’s story generated significant sympathy after he became an internet sensation, and different people have since offered support in various ways. Eric’s warning about giving him money reflects a concern that well-intentioned assistance may have unintended consequences. Instead of giving cash whenever Henry appears in town, Eric appears to prefer support that encourages him to remain in school and complete his education.
For now, the clearest account from the school is that Henry Omondi was admitted on September 2, 2024, was provided with basic needs including food and was not sent home because of unpaid fees. The school principal says Henry left voluntarily and that there were multiple attempts to have him return. Eric Omondi says he has now taken Henry back to school for the third time and has challenged the community to stop giving the teenager money when he leaves school and appears in town. The circumstances behind Henry’s repeated departures still require his own explanation, but the latest statements from Eric and the school challenge the claim that unpaid school fees forced him out. The focus now shifts to whether Henry will remain in school and complete the education that Eric and the institution have repeatedly tried to support.
