Kenyan actor Abel Mutua recently had an emotional breakdown during a podcast interview while recalling the final years of his younger brother, Raphael Mbuvi Musyoka, popularly known as Rapho. In the interview on The Kisiangani Podcast, Abel shared the family's efforts to support Rapho as he struggled with substance abuse. The emotional interview has circulated widely online, sparking conversations about the loss that affected Abel's family and Kenya's content-creation community.
Rapho was a student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and was the youngest of eight siblings. According to Abel, six of the siblings were employed and regularly contributed money towards Rapho's upkeep and education. The siblings would each contribute what they could afford, with some sending KSh2,000 and others KSh1,000. Abel recalled that Rapho's financial situation was stable during this period.
However, the situation changed during the COVID-19 pandemic when universities were closed, and students were forced to remain at home. Rapho initially spent more time with the family but gradually became less frequent in his visits. Abel said that the family started to notice that something was wrong when Rapho visited the family home in 2021 and appeared different. Another sibling close to Rapho in age had already noticed that Rapho was struggling with substance use.
Abel recalled that Rapho told him he was struggling with substance use and that he was surrounded by people who were involved in the same issue. The family later realized that Rapho had been battling addiction for about two years. They sought professional assistance and considered taking him back to rehabilitation. They also offered to help him secure accommodation as part of efforts to support his recovery.
However, the family made what Abel now considers a major mistake: they decided to stop financially supporting Rapho. According to Abel, this decision marked the beginning of a downward spiral in Rapho's life. Rapho declined the rehabilitation option despite the family's willingness to help him return to treatment. He began seeking financial assistance elsewhere, which created another set of difficulties.
Abel announced Rapho's death without publicly disclosing its cause at the time. He later shared an image of a police vehicle transporting the body and appealed for financial assistance towards the burial through an M-Pesa till number. The appeal attracted mixed reactions online, with some people questioning the request while others defended Abel and the family.
Rapho was eventually buried in Machakos County on January 5, 2024. The family's experience has sparked conversations about the challenges of supporting loved ones with substance abuse issues and the importance of seeking professional help.
Key points
- The family's decision to cut off financial support marked the beginning of a downward spiral in Rapho's life.
- Rapho was struggling with substance use for about two years before his death.
- The family had sought professional assistance and considered taking Rapho back to rehabilitation before his death.
