Kenyan filmmaker Nicholas “Nick” Wambugu has died at the age of 34 after a prolonged battle with a rare and aggressive blood disorder, his family and lawyer have confirmed.
Wambugu was widely known for his role in the acclaimed BBC Africa Eye documentary Blood Parliament, which brought international attention to police brutality during Kenya’s Gen Z–led protests.
His death was announced on Wednesday morning, January 7, 2026, with those close to him expressing deep sorrow at the loss of a creative force in Kenya’s film and media industry.
Battling Hypocellular Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
Wambugu had been fighting Hypocellular Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) — a rare bone marrow disorder that disrupts the production of healthy blood cells — since late 2025.
The condition left him critically ill and weakened, triggering a public appeal for financial support for a life-saving bone marrow transplant in India, estimated to cost about KSh 9 million.
In one of his final public posts, Wambugu reflected on his own struggle with the disease: “For most of my life, I’ve used my camera to tell stories of courage — people who rise again after life tries to break them. Today, I find myself living one of those stories.”
Despite mounting public support and fundraising efforts, he passed away days before a scheduled medical fundraiser that was planned for January 10 at Homeland Inn along Thika Road.
A Voice for Justice: Blood Parliament and Its Impact
Wambugu rose to national and international prominence in 2025 through his work on Blood Parliament, a BBC documentary that investigated the deadly police and military response to anti-government protests on June 25, 2024.
The film used open-source intelligence and eyewitness accounts to reconstruct how security forces opened fire on unarmed demonstrators outside the Kenyan Parliament, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.
The documentary sparked fierce debate around accountability and press freedom in Kenya and placed Wambugu and his colleagues under intense scrutiny.
In May 2025, he and three other filmmakers were detained by police shortly after the film’s release — an action widely criticised by activists and media freedom advocates.
Wambugu also later alleged that surveillance spyware was secretly installed on his phone while it was in police custody — a claim backed by independent forensic analysis from the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, which found commercial spyware on his device.
Legacy and Tribute
News of Wambugu’s death triggered an outpouring of condolences from peers, activists and supporters across Kenya and beyond.
Human rights campaigner Hanifa Adan described the loss as “very tragic” and praised his courage, while colleagues noted that his dedication to telling difficult stories inspired many in the creative community.
Close friend Sam Dablew referred to Wambugu as an inspiration whose influence will be sorely missed, highlighting his professionalism, ethical storytelling and deep commitment to justice.
His lawyer, Ian Mutiso, also shared that Wambugu wanted court proceedings related to the
Blood Parliament matter to be postponed due to his poor health, revealing the toll his illness had taken in his final days.
Remembering a Filmmaker Who Lived His Stories
Beyond Blood Parliament, Wambugu was celebrated for his broader body of work, including narrative and documentary projects that examined social justice, human rights and community resilience.
He was also recognised among Business Daily’s Top 40 Under 40 for his contributions to Kenyan film and media.
Colleagues and peers remember him not only as a gifted visual storyteller, but also as someone who used his craft to amplify voices often overlooked, and who believed deeply in film’s role in shaping society and holding power to account.
BY Geoffrey mbuthia
