Bonfire Adventures CEO Simon Kabu has petitioned the court to dismiss a Sh21 million lawsuit filed against him and his estranged wife, Sarah Kabu, by their former nanny, citing jurisdictional issues and abuse of the court process.
The case, which has drawn public attention, stems from a viral home video that the nanny, identified as JK, claims breached her privacy, subjected her to cyberbullying, and led to mental anguish. In her suit, JK is seeking Sh7 million for alleged sexual harassment by Sarah, another Sh7 million for breach of confidentiality due to the release of CCTV footage, and Sh7 million for violation of dignity.
JK, who was hired in June 2024 as a nanny and homeschool teacher for the Kabus’ children, alleges that her employment was a pretext for using social media to frame her as the scapegoat for the couple’s marital problems. She claims that during her employment, Sarah physically assaulted her and made inappropriate remarks, while Simon discouraged her from reporting the matter.
Court documents reveal that on August 28, 2024, Simon transferred Sh250,000 to JK’s account, though its purpose remains unclear. On October 15, 2024, she reached an out-of-court settlement with Sarah, which included considering the payment part of the deal. However, JK now claims she agreed to the settlement under duress due to alleged discrimination and prejudice in how her case was handled by the Kiambu police.
Despite the agreement, JK contends that the controversial CCTV footage resurfaced on social media on December 4, 2024. She alleges that Simon and Sarah paid bloggers to tarnish her reputation, with some online users falsely claiming she was romantically involved with Simon and was pregnant. Simon, in response, reportedly said he mistakenly shared the video with the Bonfire Adventures WhatsApp group while attempting to send it to his lawyer.
In his preliminary objection, Simon argues that the case is frivolous, vexatious, and an abuse of the court process. He further contends that the Employment and Labour Relations Court not the current court has jurisdiction to hear the matter.
The case was mentioned before Justice Bernard Matanga this week, and a ruling on Simon’s objection is set for March 27, 2025. If dismissed, JK’s legal options may narrow, but if allowed to proceed, the lawsuit could further expose the private struggles of the once-revered power couple.
