Joseph Mburu first captured public attention in 2013 after his vivid eyewitness account of a robbery went viral, with his phrase ndrama ni kama vindio becoming a buzzworthy catchphrase. That moment thrust him into the spotlight and earned him a lucrative brand ambassador role with Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telecom company, plus collaborations in music and a period of financial success.
Despite humble beginnings selling food and washing cars to make ends meet, Mburu used his sudden fame to grow his business and support vulnerable people, including orphans and people with disabilities.
Tragedy struck when he began experiencing serious health problems around 2015. Persistent symptoms went undiagnosed for years, until in 2021 he finally learned he was suffering from kidney and spinal issues and other complications. The mounting medical costs forced him to sell two plots of land at throwaway prices, deplete business capital, and take on loans he could no longer repay. Creditors took his possessions, and he ended up in dire financial straits.
Mburu now lives in a small, impoverished structure with minimal bedding, sleeps in cold conditions against doctors’ advice, and struggles with daily activities due to pain. False rumors of his death have circulated, adding to his emotional burden, and he has publicly expressed that even his wife left him.
Once a celebrated public figure riding a wave of fame and fortune, Mburu’s life has taken a stark turn, leaving him without money for dialysis and clinging to hope that an angel will help him out of his current hardships.