- Kenyan filmmaker Nick Wambugu has died after a heroic battle with a rare bone marrow disease, a source has confirmed to TUKO.co.ke
- The young filmmaker, his family and friends had recently requested KSh 9 million for a transplant in India
- Wambugu was previously associated with the controversial article ‘Blood Parliament’
Kenyan filmmaker Nicholas (Nick) Wambugu, famous for his work on the documentary ‘Blood Parliament’ which featured protest led by Gen Z, has died after a long battle with a chronic illness.
Source: Facebook
TUKO.co.ke learned about Wambugu’s death from a close friend, who confirmed the sad news on Wednesday, January 7.
“He left us today,” the source told TUKO.co.ke.
Nick Wambugu’s cousin was saddened following his death
Wambugu’s cousin also used social media to announce the sad news.
“Good morning, Kenyan! My cousin Nick has sadly passed away. My heart aches. Rest in peace Nick,” Njambi wrote on Twitter.
Nick Wambugu fought the disease that killed him
Wambugu was fighting for his life in the hospital after he was diagnosed with Hypocellular Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a rare and severe blood disorder that causes the bone marrow to fail to produce enough healthy blood cells.
In the months leading up to his death, his family and friends had appealed to the public for financial help, revealing that the award-winning filmmaker urgently needed a bone marrow transplant in India.
The procedure and associated medical transport costs were estimated at KSh 9 million.
His last Facebook post was a heartfelt plea before a medical fundraiser scheduled for Saturday, January 10, at the Homeland Inn along Thika.
“For most of my life, I have used my camera to tell stories of courage – people who rise again after life tries to break them down. Today, I find myself living one of those stories,” Wambugu wrote.
He explained that the transplant was his only chance for recovery and asked for prayers, presence, and generosity from friends, family, and the community at large.
“Because even in the dim light, hope still emerges,” he added.
Kenyans mourn Nick Wambugu
Following news of his death, Kenyans have taken to social media to mourn Wambugu, remembering him as a heroic storyteller who used film to promote hard truths and human resilience.
@Aseka254:
“I’m sorry. May he rest in power.”
@eyanm:
“My condolences to you and the family. It has been a great honor to know @nickwambugu, representing him in the matter of #BBC Blood Parliament and being a friend. We will continue to respect him. May he rest in peace. I can definitely say, he must have fulfilled his purpose here.”
@WanguiNdenyeka:
“The one time you see him walking and hope he’ll be alright, that’s it!”
@TangoFox_:
“I send my condolences. I still remember him well since he was at JKUAT, he will be missed. I wish you comfort.”
What was the role of Wambugu in the Blood Parliament?
As previously reported, Wambugu came into the national spotlight in 2025 following a major press freedom controversy linked to the BBC Africa Eye documentary Blood Parliament, which exposed allegations of corruption within the Kenyan parliament.
In May 2025, he and three other filmmakers were arrested for allegedly being involved in the production of the documentary.
Wambugu and the BBC strongly denied that he or his team contributed to the project.
Source: Facebook
After his release, Wambugu filed court documents alleging that police had installed the malicious software FlexiSPY on his phone while he was in custody, raising serious concerns about surveillance and media freedom in Kenya.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
