Sarah Mtalii explains why she no longer wants to be a role model
The estranged wife of businessman Simon Kabu, Sarah Mtalii, has come out to explain why she no longer wants to be seen as a role model, saying that she nearly lost herself trying to maintain an image for the sake of others.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Friday, March 21, 2025, Sarah, who has since changed her name from Sarah Kabu to Sarah Mtalii, spoke in length about the reason she dislikes being an inspiration, saying it comes at a hefty cost.
Mtalii revealed that her belief in marriage had been deeply rooted in her upbringing, as she was raised in a humble family where she assumed that a successful marriage was automatic and shared that she was finding it hard to leave as she planned to keep impressing her fans.
“First, I believe in marriage because I was raised in a humble family, and the way I saw marriage, I thought it was automatic. So when I got married, niliingia na miguu mbili.”
However, as the years went by, she realised that things were not working out the way she had expected.
Despite knowing that her marriage was failing, she chose to stay and play along because she was inspiring many people.
She explained that she felt a responsibility to maintain the image of a happy wife, fearing that acknowledging her struggles would disappoint those who looked up to her. But over time, she realised that the pressure was not worth it.
“When I saw that things weren’t working, I decided to play along because of the many people I was inspiring. I realised that I would die trying to inspire other people. Or trying to be a role model for other people. So I said, Kila mtu aende akarole modeliwe na mama yake. Mimi sitaki kuwa role model. Watu watafute mama zao wakuwe role models.”
Marraige
Reflecting on her 15-year marriage, she described the experience as complicated, saying that marriage can sometimes feel like a death trap, a war zone, or even what she called an acidity kind of heaven.
She acknowledged that while some people are lucky to experience genuine and fulfilling marriages, others, like herself, find themselves in situations that they can no longer endure.
“Sometimes it can be a death trap. It can also be a war zone. It can be an acidity kind of heaven. Kuna wale tu watu, hakukosi wenye wanaishi genuine marriages,” she said.
However, she advised couples to distinguish between minor issues that can be resolved and serious issues that should not be ignored.
“If you are in a good and genuine marriage, tushida tudogo tudogo hatufai kuwaachanisha. Small issues that can be sorted. But kuna zile issues you should not stay.”
Online backlash
The businesswoman also spoke about the toll that public scrutiny has taken on her and her loved ones.
She disclosed that whenever she trends online, some of her family members fall ill due to the stress and pressure of seeing her name dragged through the headlines.
“If you are close to me and you see me trending, please keep off. Some of my family members even get sick at times when they see me trending. Mapressure, because they care and they are worried about me.”
Mtalii then urged those who truly know her and understand her struggles to speak up in her defence whenever false narratives about her circulate online.
“If you know the truth when somebody anapakwa matope go online and defend me,” she urged. “Wachaneni na my pillar of strength).”
Despite the challenges, Mtalii said she has chosen to channel all her energy into her work and revealed that she is expanding her business internationally and has already opened a physical office in Dubai, with plans to expand to at least 10 other countries.
“I have coped with everything by burying myself in work,” she said.
“I want to go international and open in like 10 countries. Now, my physical office in Dubai is open.”
Single status
On the topic of relationships, she made it clear that she is not actively looking for love at the moment.
“I’m single, single,” she stated, adding humorously, “I’m only searching for donors.”
However, she left open the possibility of reconsidering love in the future, saying that perhaps, at some point, she would be ready to get back in the game.
Looking back at her journey, she said that leaving her marriage felt like stepping out of a dark hole and into the light.
She clarified that although her divorce became public in December, she had already made the decision to leave months earlier.
She disclosed that it took her two months to finally leave, but mentally, she had already checked out two years earlier, in April.
“Right now, I’m good, though I was married for 15 years. I feel like I was in a dark hole, and now I am in the light. That’s why people are saying I have too much energy now. Everything about our divorce came out on December 4th, but I officially left on May 4th. But I made the decision in March. I was in the hospital, and I was feeling sick. Maybe I was feeling sick of the marriage. Two years back in April, I saw that this was what I signed up for. And I checked out mentally. People don’t know, but stress can kill you.”
Now, she says she is in a much better place, focused on her own happiness and growth. She affirmed that she has no regrets about walking away and is determined to live life on her own terms.
