Rozinah Mwakideu has broken her silence with a detailed 36-page affidavit that paints a deeply personal portrait of her brief and troubled marriage to media personality Robert Burale.
The court filing which is now public, marks the latest twist in a saga that has captivated Kenyans both online and offline. In it, Mwakideu recounts a relationship she calls “a mistake” and “the darkest time” of her life. Phrases she had earlier used in an emotional interview that sparked the current legal storm.
The affidavit filed in response to Burale’s KSh 20 million defamation suit, challenges his claims head-on. It includes what Mwakideu says are emails and screenshots to back her version of events. She accuses her ex-husband of dishonesty, emotional neglect and behaviour that, in her words, “fractured” their union.
Burale, a well-known motivational speaker and pastor, has consistently denied the allegations. He maintains that the marriage ended because of mutual differences, not misconduct.
Speaking previously on local television, Burale said: “There was no violence, no infidelity. Sometimes two people simply cannot coexist.”
His lawsuit argues that Mwakideu’s public comments, made during an interview hosted by her brother Alex Mwakideu on YouTube, were defamatory and damaged his reputation. Her reply reframes the issue as one of truth and public interest, insisting she has a right to tell her story and the evidence to support it.
The family connection has made the dispute even more charged. Alex’s involvement as interviewer has blurred the line between journalism, family loyalty and public accountability.
Online, the saga has become a cultural talking point. Many have praised Mwakideu’s courage for “speaking her truth,” while others have questioned the airing of private grievances in public. The story has dominated social media trends in Kenya for days, with supporters on both sides dissecting every word of the court filings.
In a new legal development, Burale’s attempt to have the viral interview pulled down from YouTube has been dismissed. The court ruled that the question of removal should be decided after the main hearing. The decision was widely viewed as an early win for the Mwakideu siblings.
Legal experts say the case could test the boundaries between free expression and defamation in Kenya’s fast-evolving digital media landscape. It also raises broader questions about how public figures navigate personal disputes in an age where private lives can easily spill into the public domain.
About the Author
