Journalist Kimani Mbugua has responded to the recent viral footage capturing him grappling with slurred speech during a live session on December 28, 2023. The incident sparked concerns among Kenyans regarding the well-being of the media personality.
In the live video, Mbugua, visibly distressed, opened up about his struggle with balancing the voices in his head, revealing his ongoing battle with bipolar disorder. Known for his candid approach, he had previously criticized those who contributed money to support him post-rehab, challenging them to seek refunds.
However, in his latest video, Mbugua clarifies that his earlier recordings aimed to shed light on the harsh reality of living with mental illness. He acknowledges the profound and dark aspects of mental health, emphasizing that it is far from a glamorous experience, urging people to stop romanticizing it.
Mbugua explains in the video, “The point of yesterday and all of those videos I have done is to show you guys how deep and dark being mentally ill is. How we hear about billions of voices in our heads, and somehow you still live.”
Expressing gratitude for the support he has received, Mbugua reassures his followers that he has not lost his mind. He candidly admits to having two sides—a stable one and another battling mental health issues. “I just wanted to show everyone what mental illness looks like. It is not glamorous. Stop glamorizing mental illness. It’s torture without end. And the greatest and the most mysterious thing is I wonder how I will live with it side by side,” he adds.
This latest video follows Kimani Mbugua’s heartfelt plea for assistance in September 2023, where he shared his ongoing battle with bipolar mood disorder and the challenges he faced, including the loss of his career. In a subsequent video, he expressed gratitude for the support received, enabling him to acquire essential tools to rebuild his life, such as a phone and a laptop.
