Oga Obinna breaks down during Kimani Mbugua’s burial
Comedian and media personality Oga Obinna was overcome with emotion during the funeral of former journalist Kimani Mbugua, sharing a heartfelt message about the hidden struggles that many in the media industry face.
At the service on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Obinna conveyed his profound sadness over Kimani’s death and took the opportunity to highlight the quiet battles that countless media professionals fight behind the scenes.
“Most of us in the media space don’t talk, and we go through a lot of problems. We don’t talk because the media wants us to be perfect,” Obinna said, struggling to hold back tears.
He expressed his frustration about the constant pressure to project an image of success and happiness on social media. He called it a false reality that drives young people into unhealthy competition and takes a toll on their mental well-being.
“One thing I have tried to master is that social media is a scam; it is not a real space. What people show online is not real, you see a nice picture, it’s filters; you see a perfect life, it’s fake,” he said
Obinna urged young people to stop comparing themselves to the curated lives they see online, warning that doing so often leads to frustration, depression, and a loss of purpose.
“You see someone doing well and you start fighting to get to where they are, but in the process, you lose direction. Social media is not a real place,” he emphasized.
“All we are doing as young people is competing with each other rather than collaborating and supporting each other. When you see your friend struggling, instead of helping, we start laughing and taking pictures,” he said, visibly emotional.
The late Kimani Mbugua, who became well-known for his sharp wit and charm as an entertainment journalist at Citizen TV before transitioning to NTV, had been facing mental health struggles for quite some time.
He was in Mombasa, working hard on his rehabilitation and treatment after battling depression and substance abuse for years.
Recently, many Kenyans on social media came together to support him, raising awareness about the importance of mental health.
His passing has left the media community in shock and has sparked renewed conversations about the mental health challenges faced by journalists and young people in the entertainment industry.
Oga Obinna breaks down during Kimani Mbugua’s burial
