The father of former Citizen TV journalist Kimani Mbugua, who died last week on Wednesday, has broken his silence, narrating the media personality's final comments before his demise.
Mbugua's father opened up about his son's battle with depression and confirmed that indeed Kimani passed away from suicide on October 15, leaving behind a brief note.
In a heartbreaking narration, Dedan Kimathi revealed Kimani's final words before his death, stating that the deceased attributed his decision to commit suicide to mental and emotional struggles.
According to Mbugua's dad, his son's last words were, 'I have chosen to rest in the hands of God,' before he committed suicide inside a rehabilitation centre.
Kimathi went ahead to shed light on the brief note that his son left behind, disclosing that in one of the paragraphs, Kimani expressed exhaustion with frequent mental battles.
Kimani acknowledged that despite several attempts to treat his condition, the efforts proved futile, and instead, the whole process exacerbated his struggles.
"In one of the paragraphs, he said, 'I am tired; I have fought this body for long; it has affected my mind. I have been in treatment, and I am not getting well," Kimani's father narrated.
He added, "He also told me, 'I have done the best in my life, but I want to rest. I have chosen rest, and I have no grudge with anyone.'"
Mbugua's father, however, maintained that his son appeared to be sober and in good condition in the final days before his death and that they frequently communicated.
Kimathi further noted that his family would not blame anyone, including the rehabilitation centre, over the son's death, maintaining that it was a self-inflicted death.
"He was very okay before he died. We are not blaming anyone for his death. Even when the DCI came to take the body, we as a family did not blame the owner of the facility because there is footage of how he committed suicide," Mbugua's father stated.
In his message to Kenyans, Kimani's father urged Kenyans to seek God's guidance in their lives but warned against making the same decision Mbugua made, which resulted in his death.
Counsellors, medics, and psychologists recommend seeking help whenever you experience any mental health issue. Call the Kenya Red Cross toll-free hotline, 1199, for support.
