Simon Kabu describes what it’s like working with his estranged wife, Sarah Mtalii

Bonfire Adventures is marking 18 years in business — and the celebration comes with a twist that continues to fascinate many Kenyans. The travel giant is still being run by co-owners who were once husband and wife, long after their marriage ended.

The milestone shines a spotlight on a rare corporate setup where personal history and boardroom power collide. Following the founders’ highly publicised separation, Bonfire Adventures was forced into a delicate leadership reset, creating an unusual new dynamic at the very top of the company.

From “I Do” to Boardroom Showdowns

Co-founder and director Simon Kabu has openly spoken about the uphill task that followed the breakup, admitting that the toughest part was learning to relate to his former spouse strictly as a business partner.

According to Kabu, the separation demanded a complete mental shift — from husband and wife to director and director.

“Before, decisions were made through the lens of a marriage,” he explained. “Compromises were personal. After the separation, that had to stop.”

What once happened over pillow talk had to move into formal boardroom discussions, with the company’s survival at stake.

The 50/50 Power Puzzle

Adding to the drama is Bonfire Adventures’ equal ownership structure. With both founders holding 50 per cent shares, no major decision can pass without mutual agreement — a setup that initially proved tricky given the emotional baggage of a broken marriage.

Kabu admitted that emotions had to be stripped out of decision-making to keep the business afloat. The company was forced to adopt hardline corporate governance, operating like any other firm where directors share no personal ties.

“It had to be business, not feelings,” he said.

Drawing a Hard Professional Line

To survive, the former couple made a conscious decision to cut all emotional ties at work.

Kabu described their current arrangement as “purely director and director,” stressing that whatever once existed between them has no place in the boardroom.

Spousal titles were dropped, boundaries were redrawn, and clearly defined corporate roles took over — a shift that required discipline and deliberate effort to avoid conflict and confusion.

A Rocky Transition — Now Behind Them

While the early days after the split were tense, Kabu says the storm has since passed. The company, he noted, now operates on a stable and professional footing, with the initial hurdles firmly in the rear-view mirror.

As Bonfire Adventures celebrates 18 years in the travel industry, its story stands out as one of resilience, reinvention and a business that refused to collapse under the weight of a very public breakup.