REAL HOUSEWIVES FARAH ESMAIL ON HOW HUSBAND’S BIPOLAR BATTLE DESTROYED THEIR MARRIAGE

Real Housewives of Nairobi star and corporate lawyer, Farah Esmail has revealed intimate details of her divorce in a candid interview with podcast host Cheptoek Boyo.

Speaking openly about the breakdown of her relationship, Farah revealed that her ex-husband’s battle with bipolar disorder played a significant role. “I moved to the US to be with my partner, as someone who is very romantic and traditional. I left my career, family and country. We were together, but he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It wasn’t the illness itself that ended things, but the ripple effects of untreated mental health struggles,” she explained. 

Despite her background in law and advocacy work with mothers battling schizophrenia, Farah admitted that bipolar disorder presented unique challenges. “It’s incredibly hard to medicate and manage, especially when the person resists help. Over time, it eroded our marriage.“

The final decision to separate came when her ex-husband chose to leave. “We tried therapy, but in the end, he didn’t want to stay married,” she shared. The divorce coincided with the company she was working for being sold, leaving her without a defined role. “It felt like the universe was closing that chapter for me. I had no marriage, no career, so I left the U.S. and started over in Kenya in 2012.”