Kimani Mbugua has come forward to clarify distressing videos that recently went viral, sparking public concern about his mental health.
Contrary to public speculation, the former Citizen TV journalist asserted that the unsettling footage was done intentionally to shed light on the struggles faced by individuals dealing with mental illness.
"The point of yesterday and all the gimmicks that I have done was to show you guys how deep and dark being mentally ill is," Mbugua explained.
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He went on to describe the overwhelming experience of living with mental illness.
"You hear about a billion voices in your head, and somehow you still live…existing is a privilege."
Mbugua reassured the public that he was okay and his mental health had not relapsed as many assumed.
"I’m okay, I have not lost my mind, and that is just the other side of me. There are two Kimanis, the other one you saw and now men talking to you. It's just mental illness, nothing special," he clarified.
He went further to discourage those glamorizing mental illness noting that it is not a glamourous experience.
"Stop glamorizing mental illness; it's not a good thing," he urged.
"Mental illness is torture without end, and the greatest and most mysterious thing is wondering how to live with this disease side by side," Mbugua added.
@mrkimanimbugua Never glamourise mental illness #KimaniMbugua ♬ original sound - Kimani Mbugua
Mbugua apologised to individuals mentioned in his live videos who were concerned about him, including Curry Wahu, whom he heaped praises on as "the most beautiful girl on the internet."
He clarified that he had never met her but wanted to express admiration.
"To every other person I mentioned, you are in my head for some reason, and I love you all, and I’m okay."
Distressing video of Mbugua
In the now-viral video, the former reporter diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020, appeared notably different, eliciting reactions from concerned netizens who assumed he had relapsed.
Kimani was filmed in various settings, both rural and urban, where he spoke incoherently with an unusual voice.
In contrast to his demeanour in previous videos, he seemed unusually cheerful, punctuating his speech with sarcastic laughs.
@tiktok.data.collector #trending #fypシ゚viral #goviral #tiktokkenya #nyakolatest #nyakotrending #nyako #ladyjacquelyne #malisafi91 #dianarose #kimanimbugua ♬ original sound - TIKTOK DATA COLLECTOR💕💕🔥🔥
In a separate video, he was seen with a few others in the background. At one point, he referred to someone as a neighbour and another as his dad, inviting the latter to speak on the live video before being abruptly taken away.
