The Kenyan community, including family, friends, and fans, is grappling with the sudden and tragic loss of TikToker Milcah Nyatuga Murang'a, popularly known as Milly wa Doc. Her passing has sent shockwaves, as many try to come to terms with the reality that the vibrant mother of two is no more.

Milly wa Doc's health struggles became apparent to her TikTok followers in April when her usual active presence diminished. She later shared a video on April 5 from a hospital bed in PGH Nakuru, looking weak and informing fans she was unwell. According to a friend, Monica, Milly underwent surgery for an ovarian cyst. Post-operation, she experienced significant bleeding, necessitating a blood transfusion. Though discharged after three days, her health deteriorated, leading to re-hospitalization. Doctors then discovered both her kidneys had failed, and she was immediately put on treatment. When medication proved ineffective, Milly began dialysis. She left the hospital after the first session, but her condition worsened that night, and she unfortunately passed away. Her family later confirmed she succumbed to kidney failure.

Milly wa Doc was a well-known TikTok content creator with over 410,000 followers, often sharing posts about parenthood and love. She is survived by her two children, Brian and Sheila, both under the age of 20. Milly frequently posted about her children and had expressed plans to ensure their well-being in her absence. Her son, Brian, is currently managing her TikTok account and penned a tearjerking tribute to his mother. Just a month before her death, Milly had married her partner, Odeke, in a civil wedding. Odeke, who prefers a private life, was seen publicly during a meeting at Milly's Nakuru home after her passing.

Adding to the outpouring of grief, Jim Bonnie, who identified himself as Milly wa Doc’s first love from their youth, shared an emotional tribute. Bonnie reminisced about their early relationship, calling those days the most memorable. He revealed they maintained a friendship even after Milly married her German husband, and she had introduced Bonnie to her family. He affectionately called her 'Nyakisii' and emphasized her capacity for love.

Bonnie also shed light on Milly's more recent and highly publicized relationship with a man known as 'Doc,' who he clarified was a nurse. While their TikTok content often depicted Milly showering Doc with love and care, Bonnie believed this was a genuine expression from Milly. However, the relationship eventually faced turmoil, leading Milly into depression. Bonnie recounted how Milly had confided in him about her fears that Doc might take her car, leading her to temporarily keep the vehicle at Bonnie's place for safety until Doc vacated her house.

Milly wa Doc's death has also brought renewed attention to concerns about gender-based violence (GBV), stemming from her history of alleged abuse. She had previously spoken about being in an abusive relationship and had shared disturbing social media posts and videos describing alleged threats from a former spouse. In one post, she chillingly revealed, 'I know I’m in danger. I have already prepared my children for my death,' and mentioned an alleged plan by her ex-spouse to slowly harm her with an injection.

Police officer Sammy Ondimu Ngare corroborated these concerns, providing details of an intervention. Ngare stated that he rescued Milly in June 2024 from a locked residence in Milimani, Nakuru, where she had allegedly been assaulted by a man she had been financially supporting. This rescue was coordinated after a distress call from Milly's friend in Germany. Ngare recalled advising her to seek help and leave the abusive relationship. However, despite their efforts and her brief escape, Milly reportedly returned to the relationship, a pattern Ngare described as sadly common. He mentioned losing contact with her afterwards, stating, 'You might tell someone to leave one moment, and then they're sharing the same blanket with their abuser the next. We then lost contact. Now she's gone.'

The public's sorrow has been compounded by poignant reminders of Milly's life and final days. A video of her on a hospital bed updating fans on her health, and a throwback video where she seemingly predicted she wouldn't make it to December, have emerged, moving many netizens to tears. Milly wa Doc's family is currently making burial arrangements and has appealed to the public for financial contributions to help give her a befitting send-off.

While the nation processes the news of Milly wa Doc's passing, Kenyan newspapers on Friday, June 6, also highlighted other significant national developments unfolding concurrently.

In the political arena, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i announced his resignation from a position at the World Bank. This move is in preparation for his campaign to contest the presidency in the 2027 General Election, reportedly using retired president Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party. Matiang'i, who served his notice to the World Bank at the start of June with his contract ending in August, is expected to return to Kenya from the US later in the month to begin political mobilization for an official campaign launch. Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi confirmed, 'He has submitted his notice and is now serving his final months. He will return home later this month to reconnect, restore old networks, and lay the foundation.'

Education funding has also become a topic of national discussion. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba indicated a potential significant shift in policy, suggesting a reassessment of school funding that could reintroduce a cost-sharing model. This means parents might soon be required to contribute financially to their children's education, moving away from over two decades of free primary and secondary schooling. The ministry revealed it has only been able to disburse between KSh 16,000 and KSh 17,000 per head annually for free secondary school learners, falling short of the required KSh 22,244.

On the economic front, Kenyans anticipating tax relief faced a setback as the government shelved its plan to reduce the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) burden. National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced the withdrawal of this plan, attributing the decision to the Kenya Revenue Authority's (KRA) challenges in meeting revenue collection targets. Mbadi suggested that PAYE cuts might be considered in the Finance Bill 2026, alongside a proposal to lower corporation tax from 30% to 28%.

Lastly, issues of civil liberties were underscored by the experience of activist Rose Njeri. She narrated how DCI officers tracked her for over a week before arresting her on May 30, following a graduation ceremony after completing a course on professional development in IT. Njeri believes her arrest was linked to a website she created to allow Kenyans to share their opinions on the Finance Bill 2025, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding freedom of expression and public participation in legislative processes.