- Kenyans were shocked to learn that one of the producers of Blood Parliament, Nick Wambugu, had died after battling a rare blood disorder.
- His father, Francis Gichuki, shared that he spent time with him the day he died and also revealed what caused the young man’s sudden death
- Many people are still coming forward to pay their last respects to a man who touched the lives of many people with his talent and skills
Nairobi, Kenya: Francis Gichuki, the father of late beloved filmmaker Nick Wambugu, has shared that his son suffered breathing problems before he died.
Source: Facebook
Nick died after a heroic battle with a rare bone marrow disease, Hypocellular Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). This is a rare and severe disease that causes the bone marrow to not produce enough healthy blood cells.
A source told TUKO.co.ke that the filmmaker had requested KSh 9 million for a transplant in India that would help him return to his normal lifestyle.
“After the news of his death spread, Wambugu’s cousin, Njambi, confirmed the sad news, saying with sadness that his cousin Nick has died and the sad change made his heart hurt.
“It has touched us a lot, but we have accepted and let God’s will be done; I spent that day with him in the hospital, and there was no sign of going anywhere. He had a challenge in his breathing, and they were trying to calm him down,” he added, explaining how the filmmaker’s life faded to black,” said Gichuki.
Source: Facebook
Why was Nick Wambugu expected in court?
Wambugu and three other filmmakers were arrested for their alleged involvement in the production of Blood Parliament, and denied the allegations against them.
The young man shared that he was not attending the court case due to his health, and it happened that his death coincided with his scheduled court appearance at the Mountain Law Courts.
There was a 40-second silence in his honor after news of his death spread there.
It is clear that Kenyans loved Nick very much, as there have been outbursts of grief, with many people taking to their online platforms to mourn him.
Many shared that they had been involved in trying to raise money for the filmmaker before the cruel hand of death sadly took him.
The glowing tributes praised him for his art, craft, heart, and impact and appeared on the schedules of various Kenyans.
A lawyer mourns the death of BBC film maker Nick Wambugu
In another story, Nick’s lawyer shared that he was deeply saddened to learn that he died on January 7 after battling hypoplastic myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
Ian Mutiso described the young man as a man of purpose and continued to respect their bond beyond the courtroom.
In 2025, Wambugu, through lawyer Mutiso, filed court documents claiming police had secretly installed the FlexiSPY surveillance software on his phone while he was in custody, and the allegations raised serious concerns about media freedom, illegal surveillance, and the safety of journalists in Kenya.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
