Ken Mijungu is a household name in the Kenyan media. He has built a reputation as a sharp legal mind and a versatile news anchor. Over the years, he has graced screens at K24, NTV, and KTN. However, behind the professional poise lies a story of deep personal sacrifice and emotional weight.
Speaking on the Lessons at 30 podcast with Dr. Ofweneke, Mijungu shared a moving account of his father’s final years. He revealed the trauma of being the last family member to see his father alive.
The Middle Child Who Stayed
Mijungu comes from a large polygamous family of 21 children. His father had three wives, and Ken was the third born in his mother's house. Despite the many siblings, Ken found himself in a unique position.
In 2006, his father fell seriously ill. At the time, many of Ken's siblings were studying in London. Ken remained in Kenya. He became the primary caregiver during six years of illness.
A Cruel Night at the Hospital
The journalist described the harrowing final days in 2012. His father, who was partially paralysed, suffered a crisis while Ken was away on assignment. He was in Congo Brazzaville covering a military explosion for CCTV Africa.
Back home, his brother Cliff tried to get their father medical help. They went to a major hospital in South B. According to Mijungu, the facility refused to admit him because it lacked the necessary funds.
His father was reportedly left outside the hospital from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM. He was eventually moved to Kenyatta National Hospital’s High Dependency Unit (HDU).
“They refused to take him to the ICU or HDU because we didn't have the money to admit him to the hospital.”
The Final 2:00 AM Visit
Ken landed back in Nairobi on a Saturday morning and went straight to the hospital. Although his father was "functionless" and unable to speak, doctors said he could still hear.
Later that night, at 2:00 AM, Ken felt a pull to visit the ward one last time. He spoke to his father, who responded by trying to talk through the pipes and opening his eyes.
A Lasting Blessing
For Mijungu, being the one to stay behind was not a burden, but a source of strength. He believes he received a special grace for being there until the very end.
“So when he died, I was the last person who saw him. So, I am the last person he blessed. And that’s a testimony that I have to tell the world, there’s blessings from parents. When your parent blesses you, you never miss you never lack,” he told Ofweneke.
