Abel Mutua Narrates Brother Rapho’s Battle With Addiction Before His Death

Comedian and director Abel Mutua has narrated his younger brother Raphael’s battle with addiction before his death, revealing the events that led to the family’s loss.

Raphael Musyoka, popularly known as Rapho, died in 2023. Mutua said he is still in disbelief over the loss. “We are 8 in our family and Raphael was the 8th. We lost him in 2023 and until now I’m in disbelief,” he said.

Recounting his brother’s journey, the actor explained that after their mother passed away, the house they used to stay in, everyone moved out except Raphael, who remained. By the time he was in university, he was living alone. Six of the siblings were working and would send him money.

“Then COVID happened and schools were closed. He would visit all of us. But we started noticing the visits were few, then we were told he was with a group of friends,” he said.

In 2021, Raphael visited, but Mutua could tell something was off. He called his younger brother, who told him Raphael was taking drugs with the boys he was staying with at home. Mutua invited him to stay with him, but Raphael refused. “He was slowly starting to lose himself. Schools reopened but we were being told he was not going, all because of partying,” Mutua said.

The situation worsened when the family met and decided to cut off his funding. “From there it was a downward spiral. He refused rehab and everything. He started taking advantage of other people, and eventually they discovered. For a couple of months he was doing that. When he was done, he decided to come back home, but it was too late. He was very violent,” he said.

Mutua revealed that following Raphael’s death, he came under heavy criticism, with people accusing the family of neglecting their brother. “When he died, I came under a lot of fire, people saying we neglected our brother,” he said.