Waihiga Mwaura Posts AI Reimagining of Late Sister on Her Birthday

Prominent BBC journalist Waihiga Mwaura has shared a heartfelt tribute in memory of his late sister, Lil Gathoni Mwaura, on what would have been her birthday.

On March 11, 2026, the award-winning TV journalist took to social media with an emotional message accompanied by an AI-generated image depicting how his sister might look today.

“Happy birthday in heaven, Gathoni. AI claims that this is what you might have looked like today. Still hard to believe that you are not here. Continue to rest with the angels, dear sister,” he wrote.

The touching post, shared at around 7:00 PM, reflected the deep pain and longing Waihiga continues to feel years after her passing. His message captured the enduring bond they shared and the difficulty of accepting her absence.

Kenyans Send Messages of Comfort

Following the post, many Kenyans flocked to the comment section to offer their condolences and comforting words to the journalist and his family.

Several commenters praised Gathoni’s beauty and remembered her as a bright soul whose presence left a lasting impact on those around her.

“Such a pretty girl. Heaven received the best. May she continue to rest in eternal peace. Happy birthday, girl,” one user wrote.

Others empathised with the pain of losing a sibling, especially one you are close to.

“Losing a sibling that you're close to… there are no words to describe the pain. Poleni sana,” another commenter shared.

Some also noted her resemblance to members of the family and described her as someone who brought light and warmth to those around her.

“She was such a light to her family, and I know she is watching over you every single day,” one tribute read.

Remembering Lil Gathoni Mwaura

Lil Gathoni was Waihiga’s only sister and the youngest child in their family. She was the daughter of senior advocate David Mwaure Waihiga and Anna Ngibuini Mwaure.

Gathoni passed away in 2022 at the age of 32. Her burial was held in April that year at Lang'ata Cemetery. The family chose not to publicly disclose the cause of her death.

A Loss That Changed His Perspective

In previous reflections, Waihiga has described the loss of his sister as one of the most heartbreaking moments of his life.

The journalist has also spoken about another painful loss in the family — the death of his father-in-law in June 2021 after a long battle with terror-related injuries.

These experiences, he has said, significantly changed how he views life, reminding him how fragile and fleeting it can be.