Exclusive: Jackie Matubia – ‘I spent Sh300,000 to get divorced!’

 

Renowned Kenyan actress and award-winner Jackie Matubia, has, for the first time, candidly discussed her divorce from ex-husband Kennedy Njogu, shedding light on the financial and mental toll the process took on her.

The couple parted ways in March 2019, citing irreconcilable reasons.

In an exclusive interview with Nairobi News, the mother of two revealed the hardships she faced during the divorce proceedings.

“I used roughly Sh300,000 for the process; that would change depending on your case. If you guys have assets together, a problem with child support. There is just a lot. There are a lot of hearings and so on. Mine was even traumatising because it was during the Covid-19 period, so your case is mentioned, you can’t go to court, you do online, then it’s canceled. That trauma really got to me,” Matubia explained.

Expressing her newfound reservations about marriage, Matubia disclosed her fear of undergoing another white wedding.

“As someone who has been married before and gone through the scare of going through the divorce process, divorce in Kenya is not easy, and there is a lot of back and forth. You get scared of being married, getting that certificate,” she shared.

Matubia, who received widespread acclaim for her role in the hit TV series ‘Tahidi High,’ emphasised the financial and emotional challenges associated with divorce in Kenya.

“Divorce is expensive, time-consuming, and getting yourself into it again. There are those that work, but if someone is going through that scare, it is better for someone to take time before they can commit to a marriage.”

She advised against rushing into marriage, suggesting a more extended engagement period.

“Don’t be in a hurry, and if you can, just be open about it. I was open from day one even before the engagement. I was not sure I would go down that road of a church wedding. If someone is engaged for 10 years and not married yet, people should understand that some people are scared.”

Matubia concluded by stating that while she won’t say never to another marriage, it’s not something she would rush into.

“I would even stay with the person in the house for over 15 years before I decide to do a wedding.”

The two started their romance in 2014 and have been together till 2019. Matubia and Kennedy Njogu have a daughter together.

By Elizabeth Ngigi