An old studio moment between the late actor Bilal Wanjau and journalist Kimani Mbugua has resurfaced online, breaking the hearts of Kenyans still processing the loss of two young talents who died months apart.
The 2019 clip, filmed during a Citizen TV Day Break interview, shows the two men laughing, exchanging compliments, and reflecting on their journeys in the arts. Kimani, dressed sharply in a navy suit, introduced Bilal with genuine admiration, telling him, “I know you don’t know that I know you… you are a great actor.” Bilal smiled shyly, recalling his early days in acting from the iconic Utahama Lini commercial to his first role in Wash and Set.
Watching the two now, in light of their deaths, has left many Kenyans shaken.
Kimani passed away on October 15, after a long, public battle with mental health challenges. Earlier in the year, he had opened up about living with bipolar disorder and had recently returned to rehab with the help of former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko.
Bilal, who had been quietly fighting health complications, died on December 4, just weeks after appearing in a weight-loss clinic video with actress Sandra Dacha, where he was seen walking with a cane but still joking warmly.
As the resurfaced interview spreads, fans have flooded social media with tributes:
“Say hi to Kimani. We will miss you two.”
“Death is cruel.”
“Both gone in the same year… heartbreaking.”
What strikes viewers most is how passionately the two spoke about acting, discipline, and the hustle that shapes Kenyan creatives.
In the end, the video feels less like an interview and more like a time capsule a reminder of two bright souls whose stories ended far too soon, but whose impact continues to echo.
