Former NTV Journalist Nasibo Now Sleeping on Streets After Battle With Depression

A former journalist at Nation Media Group has left many Kenyans heartbroken after videos emerged showing that former reporter Nasibo Kabale is now living on the streets.

Nasibo, who was once widely recognized for her powerful reporting on education and health matters, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, is now battling difficult living conditions that have sparked concern across the country.

In videos seen by The Kenya Times, the former journalist appears barefoot, poorly dressed, and visibly distressed, a painful contrast to the respected media career she once had.

Nasibo revealed that her mental health struggles began during the height of the pandemic while covering stories about rising infections and deaths across the country. The emotional burden of witnessing so much suffering eventually took a serious toll on her wellbeing.

Despite receiving a Presidential Award in 2020 for her outstanding journalism work, she said the trauma she experienced while reporting during the pandemic pushed her into depression.

The former NTV journalist explained that there were moments she felt overwhelmed and hopeless while at work, leading to her admission at Chiromo Hospital where doctors prescribed anti-depressants.

According to Nasibo, the medication and treatment did not bring the recovery she had hoped for, and she later made the difficult decision to resign from her role at Nation Media Group.

She also opened up about the harsh reality of life on the streets, saying survival has become a daily struggle. Nasibo disclosed that she keeps a knife beside her while sleeping out of fear of being attacked at night.

To survive, she now collects recyclable materials and garbage from the streets for small earnings. She described her current life as painful and unstable, adding that the man sheltering her often mistreats her because she depends on him for basic needs.

Nasibo also spoke emotionally about being separated from her child, who currently lives with the child’s father and attends school. She said the situation deeply hurts her because she feels her daughter is growing up without a mother’s presence and love.

Following the circulation of the videos, concerned Kenyans have reportedly formed a WhatsApp group to raise funds aimed at helping the former journalist access rehabilitation and rebuild her life.

Nasibo Kabale studied communication and media at Kenya Methodist University before starting her journalism career at Standard Media Group in 2017. She later joined Nation Media Group, where she covered major health investigations, including stories on blood shortages in hospitals and expired drugs stored in KEMSA warehouses.