Former TV star Kimani Mbugua has left netizens concerned about his mental health after a recent social media outburst.
In a two-minute video shared on his Instagram page, Mbugua, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020, was captured shouting fervently, demanding the payment of owed debts.
The former Citizen TV journalist threatened to use force and violence to get his money back.
"If you owe me money, better send it now because I have guns to protect my money. Mimi nitakusafirisha mbinguni wacha vitisho baridi," Mbugua wrote alongside the video.
The video elicited concern and reactions from netizens who were in agreement that the former reporter needs urgent help.
philip_pleinn78: Schizophrenia is no joke, he is experiencing a psychosis breakdown worsened by weed, slowly losing grip with reality. Its like being buried alive with no way out 😢
leonyatyz: I'm crying ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
mercy_peter5:Someone somewhere is soo happy about this….. ruined this boys life……. There is God in heaven…… he sees, he restores…ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
chepkemoi_soi: May God heal you,nothing impossible with him in control
wakiomgiriama: This is too much for his family 😢
musibiomwangangi: OMG. This brother needs help
wairimukihahu: I wish his parents can pray with pastor jerry eze every morning live sessions ooh show this guy your mercies.what God cannot do doesnt exist.may you be delivered in jesus name
carolmasakimoraa: OMG someone help this guy
Mbugua, online outbursts
In December 2023, Mbugua came forward to clarify distressing videos that had gone viral.
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.
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.
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."
In the video, he appeared notably different, eliciting reactions from concerned netizens who assumed he had relapsed.
Kimani was filmed in various settings 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.
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.
