Willis Raburu Opens Up About Cyberbullying During His Darkest Moment — the Loss of His Daughter
Media personality Willis Raburu has shared a deeply personal account of how online cruelty compounded his grief after the death of his daughter, revealing just how damaging cyberbullying became during the most painful chapter of his life.
Speaking to Ciru Muriuki on Sauti Sessions Dialogue, Raburu recounted how what should have been a period of quiet mourning quickly turned into a storm of harsh judgement from strangers online.
“My Lowest Point”
Raburu described the days following his daughter’s passing as the lowest moment he has ever experienced. Instead of receiving compassion, he found himself the target of comments claiming he was being “punished” for allegedly misleading people online.
The backlash, he said, was swift and unrelenting — piling additional emotional weight onto a grief he was already struggling to process privately.
He recalled that some users even criticised him for returning to work soon after the tragedy, accusing him of disrespecting his child. Raburu explained that such comments ignored the internal turmoil he was battling and the reality that life, and work, had to continue despite the heartbreak.
The Internet’s Cruel Edge
The TV host noted that anonymity gives many people the boldness to say things they would never say face-to-face. He pointed out that the online space often magnifies negativity, especially during moments that require empathy and understanding.
Raburu stressed that public figures are human long before they are personalities on screen — and that grief does not spare them simply because they are in the spotlight.
A Call for Mindfulness
Reflecting on his experience, Raburu said that if he could offer the online world one gift, it would be mindfulness. He urged social media users to think carefully about the weight of their words, how they express themselves, and whether the information they share is grounded in truth.
He insisted that kindness and caution should guide digital interactions, especially when commenting on someone else’s pain.
Fan Reactions
The discussion stirred powerful responses from viewers:
“God doesn’t punish people like that. Watu wasome Bible please.”
A rebuke to those who suggested his tragedy was divine retribution.
“No one deserves to be met with cruelty, especially in a time of grief.”
A message of empathy from a viewer who watched the interview.
“We smile at the hardest seasons in our lives… More grace my fellow G.”
An acknowledgment of the quiet strength required to endure such moments.
Raburu’s story serves as a reminder that behind every public persona is a private human being — one who can be deeply wounded by the words we so casually type online.
