Scandals that lit up 2021

It was the biggest surprise break-up of the year. No wonder, since August when the news broke the Internet, the buzz has never died down.

“Lillian and I have been a blessing to each other. Two months ago, we decided to slowly disengage. We are on amicable terms and remain very close as friends. We will continue to talk, meet and share ideas constantly,” Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua wrote on Instagram, confirming the end of his 10-year relationship with First Lady Lilian Ng’a’ng’a.

He played down what would turn out to be the heartbreak of the year, painting a picture of a good ending as he announced that Lilian would remain a close advisor as he runs for president in the 2022 elections.

“She will be a close advisor as I govern Machakos County and run for president because I trust her sharp insight and heart. She has always been my number one fan. Our love for each other is permanent, but I think at times space and new directions are important,” Mutua said.

However, the break-up made gossip fodder for months, and still attracts attention today after what was initially dubbed an amicable separation grew into a twisting storm.  

“Winds of change blew my way and two months ago, I decided to end the long-term relationship with Dr Alfred Mutua. We had a good run and I am forever grateful to God who brought us together. We remain friends,” Lilian wrote.

Within days, Mutua threw a lavish birthday party for himself and Tanzanian singer Raymond Shaban Mwakyusa alias Rayvanny. The ceremony hosted in Nairobi that had former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the chief guest had everyone in white. Lilian attended in a black dress. 

Then things went south fast.

News that Lilian had a thing going with singer Julius Owino aka Juliani brought the two back into the headlines. 

Juliani and Lilian posted photos of them having a good time together, with Lilian simply making it clear she had moved on. 

Days later, Lilian and Juliani recorded a statement with the police claiming their lives were in danger. Then followed the start of a court battle between Lilian and Mutua over property.

In two suits filed at the Milimani Commercial Court, Lilian accused Mutua of illegally taking over her company and forcibly entering her home to repossess a car she claimed she had bought in 2014.

Lilian said she wanted a restraining order against Mutua. “What I want is for the court to permanently stop him and his servants from coming close to me, accessing my home, visiting my workplace or seizing any of my property,” said Lilian. “I am apprehensive that he can break into my home. He is capable of doing anything using unorthodox means. He has already threatened to forcibly seize my properties.”

Lilian went on to say that together with Mutua, they had established a company in 2014, and both were registered as directors and shareholders with equal shares of 2,000. According to her, the status of the company had remained the same until July 2021 when she discovered her shares had been transferred to a third party without her knowledge. The battle over the property is still on.

Samidoh and Karen Nyamu

But it wasn’t just Lilian and Mutua keeping the gossip mill turning. Mugithi star Samidoh Muchoki and city politician Karen Nyamu have been the other long-running high-profile stars of the headlines. 

The two courted controversy that pitted them against the singer’s family, including his wife.

In March, Samidoh came clean on the relationship after months of speculation. The father of three admitted to having a relationship with Nyamu.

“I am sorry! I have put my family and myself in a bad situation. It is true I had a friendship with Ms Karen Nyamu and it’s this involvement that led to the birth of an innocent child whom I have and will always support both emotionally and materially. I am a proud father of my children,” he said.

And not long ago, the two lovebirds were back in the headlines after it emerged they had booked a flight out of the country together.  

Eric Omondi and TV journalist Jacque Maribe also decided to air their dirty linen in public. Call it clout chasing if you want. Things took an ugly twist when Eric Omondi publicly doubted the paternity of a child who is said he had with Maribe.

“Roughly four months after the baby was born, Jacque called me and asked me if I would help or be part of the baby’s life. I asked her for a DNA test so that I could comfortably be part of the baby’s life and offer full support. She got very offended and refused my request,” Eric said.

It all started when Eric, with his many stunts, shared photos from a baby bump photoshoot and announced that he had “accidentally” impregnated Miss P and had decided to accept responsibility.

The stunt, which later turned out to be a clout-chasing strategy for a new song, did not settle well with Jacque who fired back, accusing Eric of being a deadbeat father. 

In a quick rejoinder, Eric announced he won’t be needing the DNA test anymore; he had deliberately decided to be an active father in the child’s life regardless of whether he was the biological father or not. In a twist to the scandal, the two said they had “crossed a line and apologised”, adding that they were now focusing on raising their child.

“We were wrong and we are sorry. We have a child to raise,” Jacque said.

Then former Churchill Show comedian Jemutai took everyone by surprise after claiming her baby daddy fellow funnyman Prof Hamo was a deadbeat dad. On a social media post, Jemutai said Prof Hamo had neglected his fatherly responsibilities for their two children.

Amber’s rays of discord

Still on relationships, there was a unique case of two socialites - Amber Ray and Amira - both claiming to be married to businessman Jamal Roho Safi. Amber and Amira engaged in public confrontation over who was more entitled as a wife.

It all started when Amber accused Amira on social media of insulting her while she was cooking. Amira accused Amber of using black magic to seduce her man and warned her against causing trouble in people’s marriages.

However, days after the night of tensions, Amber announced that she was more than ready to mend the strained relationship with her co-wife Amira.

Amber had publicly accused Amira of making her life unbearable ever since Amira found out about her marriage to Jamal.  As the saga looked to be settling down, Amira announced she was no longer with Jamal.

There was more. Marini Naturals founder and CEO Michelle Ntalami shocked netizens after she accused her then lover of infidelity. In an open letter, Michelle documented how her lover, whom she did not mention by name, cheated on her on several occasions.

Announcing her break-up, Michelle accused her then lover of “serial infidelity”. The entrepreneur said she knew the two people her partner had been seeing but decided not to publicly mention them by name. She said her partner had affairs with influential people and all this was revealed to her by friends, well-wishers and observers who had put one and one together.

She said what hurt her most was her partner’s refusal to admit that he was wrong. She said that despite the pain, she would keep the memories of her partner alive.