This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
On July 15, 2020, comedian Paul Wakimani Ogutu revealed in an interview that he had been battling depression, a condition he had kept hidden from the public eye.
Wakimani's struggles began after a car accident in which his friend, Emmanuel Makori, also known as Ayeiya, lost his life. The comedian was driving the car at the time of the accident.
Wakimani's family has since sued him for Sh21 million, claiming damages for the loss of their loved one.
Speaking candidly about his experiences, Wakimani said,
After the accident, I got depressed and used to drink a lot and I was drowning every day to the level that no one could understand me…I was trying to pick myself up and move on but those guys [at Churchill Show] were not understanding what I was doing with my life.
He explained that he had no one to turn to at the time and became violent, leading to run-ins with the police.
Wakimani also spoke about the pain of losing his girlfriend of almost five years, which further exacerbated his depression.
He urged his fans to support him in his recovery, saying,
Spiritually Muniombee sana. I’m still on my way to recovery.
