A video of former Nation Media Group (NMG) journalist Nasibo Kabale has gone viral on social media, depicting the reporter’s struggle with mental health in the streets.
In the footage, the journalist was seen holding a kitchen knife while raggedly dressed, barefoot, and with unkempt hair.
Kabale came into the limelight in 2020 following her detailed and insightful coverage of the Coronavirus disease.
A look at her career profile shows that she started her media career at Mediamax as an intern before moving to Standard Media Group and, finally, Nation Media Group.
The Kenya Institute of Mass Communication diploma in Broadcast Journalism graduate was working as a health reporter at NMG before her career took an unexpected turn.
While narrating her situation, Kabale revealed she was diagnosed with depression while working as a health reporter at NMG.
The power of partnerships: Opportunity to scale up women-led SME growth in Kenya
Things got worse, and at some point, she contemplated suicide after she noted that her health was deteriorating. Following multiple treatments at the Chiromo Hospital that bore no results, Kabale decided to resign despite her wide admiration from various media houses.
“It happened that the company dismissed people from the office but fortunately I was among the five that were retained but the job became challenging after I began witnessing people dying. It disturbed me,” she narrated.
Kabale revealed that during her time in the newsroom, she never struggled to find jobs as opportunities presented themselves attracted by her expertise.
“I never applied for a job, the employers just admired my effort and granted me chances at their companies. I left Nation Media because of depression but at Standard Group, I quit because of a meagre pay,” she recalled.
Kabale revealed her new life now depends on begging. Due to the insecurities in the street, the journalist uses a knife to protect herself against any potential threats while sleeping inside her ramshackle.
“Here you must sleep with a knife beside you because anyone can come at night and attack you,” she said.
The situation has seen her separate from her young daughter who resides with her father, a well-known figure.
