Former Citizen TV journalist Kimani Mbugua. /HANDOUTDeceased former Citizen TV journalist Kimani Mbugua’s father, Dedan Kimathi, has revealed his son’s final words before his death.
Mbugua, 29, died on the night of October 14 through what his father confirmed was death by suicide.
He passed away at a rehabilitation centre in Mombasa where he had been undergoing treatment.
Speaking to the media, Kimathi said his son appeared resigned to his struggles and expressed a desire for peace.
“Because he says that ‘I know I have taken myself; I have been a burden to myself, and I don't want to be a burden any further,’” he said.
According to Kimathi, his son’s last message reflected a deep sense of hopelessness after years of battling mental health challenges.
“He mentioned that ‘I have chosen to rest in the hands of God," he added.
The family has ruled out any foul play in the death, saying it has accepted the painful reality with grace.
Kimathi said investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and footage from the facility confirmed that Mbugua took his own life.
“We are not blaming anyone. The DCI came, and they took the body. We as a family are not complaining of the facility because the footage is there how he committed suicide and we have accepted it. We have said since he has chosen to rest, who are we to say not to rest?” he said.
Mbugua’s death became public on Wednesday afternoon, although reports indicated he passed away on Tuesday night.
He was a talented young journalist with a flourishing career before his mental health started to decline.
Mbugua's struggle to recover was marked with relapses, which were reportedly worsened by substance abuse and negative peer influence.
Before joining Citizen TV, Mbugua worked with Nation Media Group, where his engaging feature stories and lifestyle segments earned him a reputation as one of the most promising young faces on Kenyan television.
He had been open about his struggles with bipolar disorder, sharing his experiences publicly and sparking a national conversation about mental health.
His openness drew support from public figures, including former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and media personality Oga Obinna, who both assisted in his recovery efforts.
Kimathi expressed gratitude to those who had stood by his son, saying Mbugua had been surrounded by golden opportunities and people willing to help him rebuild his life.
“We thank Governor Sonko, may God bless him, because he had even committed himself to support him to open a channel,” he said.
“He was willing to allow Kimani to employ so many young people. Those are jobs gone, those are opportunities gone, that’s a leader who is gone, this is a family gone.”
In his message to young people, Kimathi urged them to seek spiritual and emotional guidance during difficult times.
“Choose God to guide you, but don't choose to rest in that formula. Wait until your time comes,” he said.
“He has really broken our hearts completely, and we have no way to deal with it," Kimathi said.
