Kimani Mbugua’s father has revealed details of his son’s suicide note, shedding light on the emotional struggles the former journalist faced before his death.

An anguished father this week spoke publicly about the suicide of his son disclosing chilling details of the younger man’s struggle with bipolar disorder.

“You see, bipolar disorder is very strange. When one stabilises, it can relapse once again,” the father said in a press briefing.

He revealed that the family had fought with hospital management to ensure regular consultations:

“But we have fought the management to consult the hospital now and then. And now we have said that because it was not his wish, it may not be so.”

Accepting what he called “what fate has for us in good faith,” the father added, “My work as dad was only to support him to recover.”

According to the father, there will be no legal action against the hospital, “We have not taken any cases against the hospital because of the footage of CCTV that reveals everything. I thank the Amina Rescue Center. Every corner has CCTV. And what it shows, what he did, it shows he did it knowingly without any confrontation.”

Mbugua’s letter to his dad

He said his son had written to him saying, “Dad, I’m tired and I have chosen to rest. … I would be the best ever journalist in this country because I’m young.”

He singled out support from well-known figures and institutions, “I thank everybody, more so the former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, Oga Obinna, and every Kenyan who supported his journey.”

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Broader national alarm over suicides

This tragic death comes amid growing concern over suicide rates in Kenya.

According to the country’s mental‐health policy brief citing the World Health Organization, Kenya records “approximately four suicide deaths … every day”, with a crude rate of around 6.1 deaths per 100,000 people and an age-standardised rate of about 11.0 per 100,000.

Additional reporting indicates that Kenya has recorded 1,576 suicide deaths over the past four years, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and the National Police Service.

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Despite legal and policy reforms, including a landmark January 2025 ruling by the High Court deeming criminalisation of attempted suicide unconstitutional, gaps in mental-health service access, under-reporting, and societal stigma persist.

The father’s disclosure emphasises how mental-health conditions such as bipolar disorder, when coupled with societal barriers to care, can culminate in tragic loss.

As Kenya grapples with its broader suicide challenge, Mr Mbugua’s death is a stark reminder of what families and society face when early support, sustained treatment, and open conversation fall short.

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From Right the Late Kimani Mbugua and His Dad During A Past Interview. PHOTO/ Standard.