Kimani Mbugua’s Father Reveals Details of His Son’s Suicide Note
The father of former Citizen TV journalist Kimani Mbugua has revealed details about his son’s suicide note.
Speaking to the media on October 21, his father emotionally stated that the late Kimani had left a note saying he was tired and wanted to rest.
“Dad, I’m tired. I’ve chosen to rest. What could I do?” Kimani’s father read part of the note.
Kimani had earlier expressed hope for the future, saying he wanted to return to journalism once he fully recovered.
“He said he would come back and become the best journalist in this country because he was still young,” his father recalled emotionally.
Kimani Mbugua died on October 14. His family confirmed his death, saying that he took his own life and left behind a suicide note.
Kimani Mbugua’s Father Opens Up About His Son’s Death
Kimani’s father described his son’s long struggle with bipolar disorder, noting that although he had shown signs of improvement, relapses were frequent.
“Bipolar disorder is a strange condition. When one stabilizes, it can relapse again,” he explained.
Additionally, Kimani’s father stated that he does not blame anyone for his son’s death, as CCTV footage from the Mombasa Rescue Center confirmed his son took his own life.
“The CCTV cameras captured everything. What it showed was clear — that my son did it himself,” he said.
He thanked all those who supported Kimani during his mental health journey, including former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, comedian Oga Obinna, and Kenyans who offered help and encouragement.
Kimani’s death came after years of battling mental health challenges that had left him frequenting rehabilitation and hospital care centers.
In recent years, Kimani had been in the spotlight for his public struggles with bipolar disorder, which drastically affected his media career.
In 2023, the 29-year-old shared a heartbreaking video on Instagram, where he spoke candidly about his situation, admitting he was in trouble and needed help.
Appeal for Help
On October 20, Kimani Mbugua’s father appealed to Kenyans for support to raise Ksh 2.5 million for burial arrangements.
In an emotional address, he recounted the events of Kimani’s death, as captured on CCTV, and expressed gratitude to those who had supported his son’s recovery, urging well-wishers to assist the family one final time.
The family estimates the burial alone will cost KSh 217,000.
“We have been through so much with my son. I tried my best, and so did many Kenyans who reached out. Now, we are appealing for assistance to give him a decent send-off,” he said.
His burial will be on Tuesday, October 28, in Maragua, Murang’a County.
