Media personality Willis Raburu has shared a candid account of the financial and emotional struggles he faced at the peak of his career — from battling debt to dealing with unimaginable personal loss.
The former Citizen TV presenter, who once hosted the popular 10 Over 10 show, revealed that despite his public success, he privately endured a period of intense hardship.
Speaking in an interview with Chris The Bass, Raburu recalled how he fell into debt after maintaining a lifestyle that became too expensive to sustain.
At the time, he was working at Royal Media Services, juggling multiple responsibilities, when he realised his luxury car was draining him financially. He decided to sell it and buy a cheaper one — but that decision only led to more challenges.
“Someone from the car yard came and said they will buy the engine for the car. So, if you bought it at around KSh 680,000, then 25 per cent of the resale value would come to about KSh 550,000 or KSh 600,000 if you’re lucky,” he said.
According to Raburu, the woman who bought the vehicle had to replace its engine at a cost of KSh 400,000, meaning he barely made any profit.
“She gave me KSh 75,000 in an envelope — and I was still paying loans,” he admitted.
After selling the car, Raburu was forced to rely on taxis. But even that became expensive. Each time he boarded a matatu, people recognised him and insisted he pay the fare for everyone.
“I started accruing taxi debt, plus I had another KSh 50,000 debt at the kiosk. By the end of it, I only had about KSh 20,000 left,” he said.
The experience, he added, was a wake-up call that changed how he viewed money and lifestyle choices. Raburu credited his wife, Ivy Namu, for helping him remain grounded and disciplined.
Today, the journalist says he has no rush to return to mainstream media unless he receives the right offer. Speaking to Shatta Bway in a recent interview, he made it clear that his focus has shifted to empowering others rather than chasing fame.
“Unless someone pays me KSh 1 million, I’m okay not working in mainstream media,” he said.
The pain that changed everything
In October 2025, Raburu revisited one of the darkest moments of his life — the loss of his daughter, Adana, on December 31, 2019.
During an emotional interview with Alex Mwakideu on October 21, 2025, he recounted being present in the delivery room as his partner gave birth to their stillborn child.
“That was the lowest moment in my entire life,” he said tearfully. “I held the baby and called her name, but there was no sound. I lost hope in everything.”
READ MORE: Marya Prude Tells All: The Day WhatsApp Ended Her Marriage to Willis Raburu
The trauma from that day still lingers. Even simple daily experiences can trigger painful memories.
“Even after that, because I was in the cold room, ata kwa supermarket nikipita kwa fridge, I would shake because I would remember,” he shared.
Despite his role as an entertainer, Raburu confessed that he often broke down before and after filming 10 Over 10.
“I’d park my car, cry, then go do the show. After the show, I’d go back to the car, cry again, and then go home to drink because I was trying to forget,” he said.
Finding healing through therapy
At his lowest point, Raburu admitted he contemplated ending his life, believing that death might reunite him with his daughter.
Through therapy and a strong support system, the media personality slowly found his way back to emotional stability. He now uses his story to encourage others to seek help rather than suffer in silence.
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