Former Governor MIKE SONKO opens up on daughter SAUMU MBUVI’s battle with mental illness - “The Rich Also Cry, We Suffer in Silence”

Stigma hurts most when it comes from family - Saumu Mbuvi’s mental health story

When former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko publicly revealed that his daughter, Saumu Mbuvi, had battled bipolar disorder, his intention may have been to highlight the importance of mental health awareness. But for Saumu, that disclosure cut deeper than expected, reopening wounds that many silently carry when their pain becomes public property, especially at the hands of their own family. A father’s revelation During the burial of the late journali…

Former Governor MIKE SONKO opens up on daughter SAUMU MBUVI’s battle with mental illness - “The Rich Also Cry, We Suffer in Silence”

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 - During the emotional burial of journalist Kimani Mbugua in Maragua, Murang’a County, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko revealed that his daughter, Saumu Mbuvi, has battled the same mental health condition that affected the late media personality. Speaking to mourners, Sonko shared that Saumu had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, insisting that mental illness affects people across all walks of life. “The rich al…