Filmmaker, Creative Visionary and Storyteller Nick Wambugu with the trophy he received during the Top 40 Under 40 Men Awards gala dinner event held at Serena Hotel in Nairobi on December 5, 2025. The ceremony recognised outstanding young leaders making significant contributions across various sectors in Kenya. BONFACE BOGITA | NATION
The creative community is in mourning following the death of renowned filmmaker Nicholas “Nick” Wambugu, who won critical acclaim for his documentary “The People Shall”.
His father Francis Gichuki confirmed his passing, noting that Wambugu, who was battling a rare blood disorder, died on Wednesday night.
“It has hit us very hard, but we have accepted, and we have allowed God’s will to take place. I spent the day with him yesterday at the hospital, and there was no indication of him going anywhere. He developed a challenge in his breathing. There wasn’t much. They were trying to stabilise him,” he said.
Wambugu, 34, had been living with hypocellular Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a rare blood disorder that he was diagnosed with in October last year.
While grappling with the illness, he was also dealing with the aftermath of a high-profile arrest in May last year after authorities linked him to BBC’s “Blood Parliament” documentary.
His death comes on the day mention of the case against him and three other filmmakers was set to happen at the Milimani Law Courts.
Extraordinary year
During a previous interview with the Nation, the storyteller described life after the diagnosis, while describing 2025 as an extraordinary year for him. It was the year that brought acclaim for his “People Shall”, a documentary that chronicled the Gen-Z-led anti-Finance Bill protests through the eyes of seven voices bound together by loss, anger and online activism.
It was also the year that he was recognised as one of Business Daily’s Top 40 under 40 men.
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