Actress Jackie Matubia, 35, has shared a poignant message to Kenyans following the death of her father, David Macharia.
The mother-of-two admits she has been ‘a wreck’ and ‘numb’ after a video of her late father triggered overwhelming emotions.
In a series of deeply personal posts shared on Friday, January 16, 2026, the Salem actress opened up about the paralyzing nature of grief.
Following the death of her father, David Mwangi Macharia, who passed away last year after a brave battle with stage four cancer, Matubia revealed that the healing journey is far from linear.
“Love your parents loudly, hug them often,” she wrote, her words serving as a wake-up call to her followers.
“Tell them ‘I love you’ without waiting for a special day.”
Matubia, who famously redirected her film production funds to pay for her father’s chemotherapy in 2024, admitted that recent days have been her hardest yet.
A simple video shared by her brother featuring their late father sent the actress into an emotional tailspin, leaving her unable to perform her daily routines.
“Grief is something else,” she confessed.
“These past two days, I’ve barely been able to wake up to work, to even be present for my kids. It’s like my whole body just shut down.”
She highlighted a side of mourning that is rarely discussed: the total numbness that follows the initial tears.
“People don’t talk enough about this side of grief… sometimes it just numbs you completely. You sit there staring, unable to do anything.”
Perhaps her most poignant advice was directed at those currently at odds with their parents. Matubia, who has been vocal about her own “salvation journey” in late 2025, urged for reconciliation while there is still time.
“Even if you are not on talking terms, just drop a text,” she urged.
“Because when they’re gone, that’s when you truly understand the weight of having a mom or a dad.”
Despite the “paralyzing” effect of her recent emotional setback, Matubia remains determined to push forward for her two daughters, Zari and Zendaya.
She ended her message on a note of defiant hope, reminding herself and her fans that survival is found in the small moments.
“I keep reminding myself one day at a time, one breath at a time. I’m still here, still standing, still breathing.”
