Kenyan billionaire businessman Chris Kirubi lived a life defined by ambition, wealth, independence and a love for the finer things. Despite building a business empire and becoming one of the country’s most recognisable tycoons, Kirubi’s personal life took a different path after his marriage ended in divorce in 1991.
Kirubi was briefly married to Mary-Anne Musangi, the mother of his two children, Mary-Anne and Robert Kirubi. However, their relationship eventually broke down, with the businessman explaining that differences in their personalities and lifestyles contributed to their separation.
In an interview on KTN’s Person of Interest programme, Kirubi spoke candidly about his experience with marriage, revealing that he valued freedom and independence, which he felt were difficult to maintain in his union.
He described his former wife as conservative while portraying himself as an outgoing person who enjoyed working late and making his own decisions without having to explain his movements.
“I was outgoing. I wanted freedom. But my wife was conservative. People are born different, maybe we were not two of a kind,” he said.
Kirubi also recalled that he found it difficult to live with what he described as constant disagreements at home, saying he no longer enjoyed returning to a quarrelsome household.
“If you marry a good woman, it is such a pleasure. But there are some women who are like they first went to the army then came back for you to marry them,” he remarked.
The billionaire maintained that remaining in an unhappy marriage simply to preserve appearances was not worthwhile. Although he acknowledged that divorce could be a painful experience, he believed separating was sometimes the better option.
“Divorce is a nasty thing, but if it has to happen it better happen. There is no point living in misery just to stay married,” he said.
Following the separation, Kirubi never remarried publicly. Instead, he embraced a lifestyle that allowed him to dedicate much of his time to business, work and personal interests.
He revealed that he could work until midnight without having to answer questions about his schedule, describing the independence as something he valued.
Kirubi’s commitment to business remained evident throughout his career. A former employee told The Standard that even while receiving treatment in the United States, the businessman called regularly to check on the performance of his companies, ask difficult questions and recognise hard work.
Despite his wealth and influence, Kirubi’s personal life reflected his belief that happiness and compatibility were essential in a relationship.
He died on June 14, 2021, aged 80, leaving behind a business legacy that spanned investments, media, manufacturing and real estate.