Marya Prude Opens Up on Relocating To Dubai To ‘Heal’ After Willis Raburu Divorce

Media personality and digital influencer Marya Prude has opened up about the drastic steps she had to take to rebuild her life, revealing that relocating to Dubai for two years was the defining catalyst for her emotional recovery following her highly publicized divorce from prominent media figure Willis Raburu.

Speaking candidly during a deep-dive interview on the Mike One Podcast, Marya pulled back the curtain on the suffocating reality of navigating a high-profile separation under the relentless glare of the Kenyan public. She confessed that after the marriage collapsed, she quickly realized that the domestic environment had become too toxic for her mental well-being, as she was constantly stripped of her individuality and reduced to a mere tabloid headline.

“I discovered I cannot heal in this country because every place I went, it was the same story. ‘Huyu ni ule ex wa nani?’ (Is this so-and-so’s ex?). I was trying to find my identity outside of that. That’s when I left,” Marya shared, describing the overwhelming feeling of being perpetually defined by her past.

The emotional toll of the divorce was further compounded by profound personal grief, leaving Marya in desperate need of a completely blank slate. Recognizing that true healing required absolute distance from familiar spaces and constant societal reminders, she actively began searching for professional opportunities beyond East African borders.

The turning point came through a professional connection she had established during her corporate engagements in Nairobi. A contractor whose company maintained active operations in the United Arab Emirates was scouting for talent to join their team in Dubai. Seizing the opportunity as a divine lifeline, Marya packed her bags and relocated to the Gulf nation.

Reflecting on her two-year stint abroad, Marya credited the anonymity and fast-paced environment of Dubai with allowing her to quietly process her trauma, rediscover her self-worth, and establish a thriving professional identity completely independent of her past marriage. Her vulnerable revelation has sparked widespread admiration online, with many modern women praising her courage to walk away from societal noise in pursuit of genuine peace and self-actualization.