Renowned Kenyan actor and scriptwriter Abel Mutua is grappling with the devastating loss of his younger brother, Raphael Mbuvi Musyoka.
Raphael, affectionately known as ‘Rapho’ within his close social circles, was only 23 years old at the time of his death.
In the wake of this tragedy, Abel Mutua has found himself under intense scrutiny from angry netizens whose speculations on social media have accused Mutua of neglect, suggesting that Rapho might have taken his own life after feeling abandoned by his brother.
But what is the truth, and what really happened to Abel Mutua’s brother?
This article delves into the latest information surrounding Raphael Mbuvi’s story, exploring his cause of death, the surrounding controversy, his age, family details, and the ongoing discussions about his funeral and burial.
Raphael Mbuvi Cause of Death
The exact cause of Raphael Mbuvi’s death has not been officially revealed, but it is suspected that he succumbed to complications arising from his drug abuse and mental illness.
Abel Mutua, who is popularly known as Mkurugenzi, announced the demise of his brother on social media on December 28, 2022, without disclosing the cause of death.
He only posted a photo of a police land cruiser packed at a petrol station and said the vehicle was ferrying the lifeless body of his brother.
“In this truck lies the lifeless body of a once vibrant young man whose life has been tragically cut short at the tender age of 23. Rest in Peace my brother. We tried our best but I guess our best wasn’t good enough. Round 2 Brathe. 
,” Abel Mutua wrote.
Law enforcement officers are mandated to collect bodies in instances where suspected crime has occurred, and the photo further heightened speculations that Rapho committed suicide.
Another reason this could be true is the absence of a direct refutation from the family regarding the rumours.
Notably, both of his brothers have openly acknowledged Rapho’s mental health struggles, suggesting there might be some truth to the speculation.
Abel Mutua‘s other brother Jesse Mwethuku also shared the heart-wrenching news along with a rare nostalgic photo capturing the three brothers in a cherished moment.
In the picture, the stylist revealed that Rapho, forever 23, was only a day old.
Raphael Mbuvi’s Story: Battle with Drugs and Depression
Rapho was very close to his elder brothers, Abel and Jesse, who described him as a loving, caring, and cheerful person.
However, according to both their accounts, Rapho’s life took a dark turn when he got involved in drugs and alcohol abuse, which affected his mental health and well-being.
He became depressed, withdrawn, and suicidal.
Backlash from Kenyans
Kenyan netizens initially criticized Abel Mutua when he requested financial assistance for his brother’s funeral, sparking controversy.
Abel Mutua asked for any support to give Raphael Mbuvi a dignified sendoff, providing an M-Pesa till number for contributions.
However, some Kenyans felt he should cover the expenses himself, considering his financial status.
Despite the backlash, Mutua remained silent on the matter.
Later on Sunday, Mutua broke his silence, announcing his intention to share his late brother’s story, believing it could be impactful and serve as inspiration.
He disclosed that Raphael had been unwell, and friends had supported him in his journey towards recovery.
“Thank you so much, Wakurugenzi, for the love that you’re sending our way. A good number of you know the truth and have stood with us since my brother became ill. I’ll tell Rapho’s story because I know it’ll save someone, and his death won’t be in vain. See you after the burial,” Mutua shared on X.
This statement aimed to address the criticism on social media regarding Mutua’s financial request for his brother’s burial expenses.
Jesse admits to beating his brother Rapho
Abel Mutua’s brother, Jesse Mwethuku, also known as Luku Baridi, has acknowledged and clarified recent allegations of physical confrontation with their late brother, Raphael Musyoka.
In response to online accusations of assaulting Raphael, Jesse provided a statement to share his perspective.
He admitted to resorting to physical discipline with his younger brother, citing an incident in 2020 when Raphael allegedly arm-twisted their father while he attempted to intervene in preventing Raphael from using drugs.
“I want to unconditionally admit that I went physical on my younger brother on several occasions, and that’s absolutely true. Here’s the other side of the coin,” Jesse acknowledged.
He explained that the initial physical confrontation occurred in 2020 when their father, concerned about Raphael’s drug use, was allegedly manipulated out of money by him.
Despite being aware that he might become a trending topic, Jesse emphasized that he never anticipated it would happen while he mourned the loss of his brother.
He acknowledged the bad timing but felt the need to address the specific accusation of violence towards Raphael for the sake of his peace of mind.
“I knew one day I was gonna trend, but never in my wildest dreams did it occur to me that it would happen at such a time when I’m mourning the loss of my brother. While I understand it’s bad timing, for my peace of mind, I want to address just one aspect that has been leveled against me as an individual, which was violence towards my brother,” he stated.
Abel Mutua's Brother Jesse Mwethuku, aka LukuBaridi, speaks after being accused of assaulting their late brother Rapho severally.
He admits that he beat him up twice and why he did it.
He also mentions that Rapho had a mental problem that was disturbing him
Thread pic.twitter.com/OZyqDo8mhG
— Dennis Milimo (@dennothefamous) December 31, 2023
Raphael Mbuvi’s Funeral and Burial
Raphael Mbuvi’s funeral and burial arrangements are yet to be announced by the family.
However, according to sources close to the family, the funeral service is expected to take place at a church in Nairobi, followed by a burial at their rural home.
The family has requested for privacy and respect during this difficult time.
The post What Happened To Abel Mutua’s Brother? Raphael Mbuvi’s Cause of Death, Allegations, Age, Photos and Family Controversy appeared first on Cyprian Nyakundi.