The Burale-Mwakideu defamation suit exploded into headlines, with motivational powerhouse Robert Burale hauling his ex-wife, Rozina Mwakideu, and her brother, media firebrand Alex Mwakideu, into Milimani Law Courts over a bombshell YouTube interview that he says shredded his reputation like confetti at a bad party.
Burale, the silver-tongued preacher who’s inspired thousands from pulpits to podcasts, filed the blistering petition on October 8, zeroing in on that October 4 tell-all titled “My Biggest Mistake Was Marrying Robert Burale.”
Uploaded to Alex Mwakideu TV’s channel, the 45-minute roast, with Rozina spilling tea on their rocky 2010s marriage, paints Burale as a puppet-master manipulator, two-faced hypocrite, slick swindler, and worse, insinuating homosexual leanings that clash hard with his Bible-thumping brand.
“I’m not just fighting for cash; this is about truth and my name,” Burale thundered in a post-filing statement to reporters outside the court, his jaw set like he was mid-sermon. The suit demands a hefty Sh20 million in general damages, plus aggravated bucks for the “malicious” sting, a grovelling public apology, and an ironclad court order to yank the video offline and muzzle any reruns.
“They turned private pain into public poison,” he added, eyes flashing with that preacher fire. Rewind to their saga: Burale and Rozina tied the knot in the early 2010s amid Nairobi’s evangelical glow-up, blending her quiet support with his rising star. But cracks showed fast: infidelity whispers and ministry strains, and by 2014, divorce papers flew, leaving two kids in the co-parenting crossfire.
Rozina faded from spotlights, rebuilding in the shadows, while Burale soared, rubbing shoulders with global faith giants and dropping self-help gold. Fast-forward to last week: Rozina, flanked by brother Alex in his sleek studio, unleashes years of bottled fury.
“He manipulated my faith, swindled our dreams,” she vents in clips now frozen at 500,000 views, her voice cracking on tales of betrayal that veer into uncharted territory, like those loaded homosexuality jabs that Burale calls “reckless lies cooked up for clicks.”
Alex, the radio rogue renowned for his candid interviews that generate advertising revenue, nods in agreement, as his channel thrives on this type of content.
“Public figures like Burale face a higher bar for proof, but this reeks of intent,” opined veteran lawyer Steve Ogola, who’s watched similar celeb scraps turn ugly.
The suit labels Alex as an enabler, accusing him of “reckless publication” without fact-checks, akin to YouTube’s unregulated environment where opinions override truth. Social media’s a battlefield.
The post tallied “prayer chains” for justice, reaching 10,000 shares. Flip side? Rozina’s squad hails her “bravery”, with Alex retweeting fan love: “Truth hurts, but silence kills.” A cheeky meme of Burale as a courtroom gladiator looped endlessly, captioned: “From altar to altar ego, who wins this holy war?”
The Mwakideus? Mum, so far, their camp is dodging mics like illicit debts. Insiders whisper settlement talks bubble under, but Burale’s team smells blood: “No half-apologies; full retraction or full fight.”
The Milimani Magistrate set a mention for October 23, buying time for replies amid Kenya’s rainy season blues. This Burale-Mwakideu defamation suit isn’t just tabloid tinder; it’s a mirror to fame’s fragile underbelly.
