King David remembers late son’s first and only birthday in heartfelt tribute
Forex trader and influencer David Mwangi, alias King David, has reflected on the emotional memories surrounding the first and only birthday celebration of his late son Mateo Kariuki, describing the moment as both joyful and heartbreaking in hindsight.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, July 24, 2025, just a week after the tragic loss, the bereaved father recalled how the day was filled with laughter, happiness and dreams for the future as the family marked Mateo’s milestone birthday.
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He noted that at the time, there was no hint that their lives were about to take a devastating turn.
“On this day, we were celebrating Mateo’s very first birthday. Full of joy, laughter, and dreams for the future. We had no idea that just one month later, our lives would change forever,” he wrote in a moving tribute.
King David went on to express the deep emotional bond he shared with his son, stating that although Mateo’s time on earth was short, his presence left a lasting mark.
He described his son’s memory as a source of pure love and a reminder of the profound pride he felt as a parent.
“I still hear your laugh, I still see your smile… And though your time with us was short, your presence was powerful. You taught us pure love, and your memory will live in our hearts forever,” he added.
In the heartfelt post, he ended with a solemn farewell to his little angel, assuring him that his legacy would never be forgotten.
“Sleep well, my little angel. You made me a proud parent. You are deeply missed, deeply loved… and never forgotten.”
Mateo’s death
The forex trader on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, shared the heartbreaking details surrounding the tragic death of his one-year-old son, saying he drowned during a family vacation in Mombasa.
While the family had earlier confirmed the devastating news of Mateo’s passing, King David opened up about the painful sequence of events, offering a deeply emotional glimpse into the tragedy that has left them shattered.
In a collaborative post on Instagram, David revealed that they had travelled to Mombasa for a much-needed holiday and spent time enjoying water activities, with Mateo attending swimming lessons at a local hotel.
The toddler, full of life and curiosity, was learning fast and had been using floaters for safety.
“He learnt fast and was able to get rid of all the fear,” David shared, adding that Mateo had been eager to continue the experience the following day.
Tragically, the morning after their fun day, Mateo managed to slip out of the holiday house unnoticed and headed straight to the swimming pool.
“Once we woke up the following morning, he was ready to continue the experience. As boys have always been, he managed to get out of the door without anyone noticing, and he got into the swimming pool of their holiday house. Unfortunately, no one was around to stop him or save him in time. By the time his parents realised he was missing, Mateo was no more,” David recounted.
The grieving father painted a heart-wrenching picture of the family’s pain, describing how the loss has deeply affected them.
“A mother is grieving the loss of a child she took care of, who was healthy, who was as handsome as a son can be. A dad is mourning losing his son, just a few weeks after celebrating his birthday. And to make things worse, losing him while on vacation to give his family the life he always dreamt of,” he said.
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Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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