She walks into a room and everything shifts. In her early 60s, Sarah Maingey Hillman is the kind of woman who radiates a timeless beauty youthful, stylish, and confident. But what truly captures you is her voice: a husky, unforgettable tone, perfect for radio or television.
Add to that her signature gold lipstick, infectious laugh, and magnetic presence Sarah Hillman is impossible to ignore.
A devoted mother of five, Sarah Hillman now lives in the UK, but her heart stretches far across continents. She owns the picturesque Yeyani Resort in Athi River, Kenya, and carries a lifelong commitment to community development and philanthropy.
She loves to cook, and while she avoids politics, her passion lies in fighting poverty and uplifting the vulnerable.
Her journey of impact began in 2003 when she founded a children’s home in Kitui, Kenya. By 2005, she made history as the first Kenyan woman and the first Black councillor to be elected in Frome, Somerset, UK.
She didn’t stop there. In 2010, she launched the Kibra Project, establishing a church and a school that continues to educate over 100 children. She also supports 15 families affected by HIV/AIDS, ensuring they receive food, medical care, and dignity.
Sarah Hillman’s talents transcend charity. A culinary force, she earned national recognition by winning Best Food at the Glastonbury Festival three years in a row.
In 2007, she received the Remember Africa Award in London, a highlight of her multifaceted career. Her natural charisma gave her an opportunity to participate in Come Dine With Me BBC TV show, on Channel 4’s where she won and donated all her prize money back to her charity projects.
That success led to her appearance on Champion of Champions, competing among the show’s top past winners.
Shewill be launching a line of flagship products Mama Sarah Feed Me Chili Paste, Curry Paste, and Chili Sauce with proceeds funding her philanthropic missions. “Every jar sold carries the taste of my soul and the power to change lives and help fuel the mission while kicking poverty out of Kenya,” she said.
“I couldn’t stay chained to the stove forever I’m not as young and energetic as I used to be,” she said with a playful smirk and fire in her eyes.
“Feeding the vulnerable every single day was wearing me down. So, I turned my passion into a solution and flipped the script bottled my secret recipes.
Born into a large, well-off family in Kenya, Sarah Hillman was raised by a father she describes as a natural leader. “My father became a leader at just 20,” she says with pride.
“I like to think I inherited his leadership skill,” she says.
Who later acquired a ranch in Athi River, and shared among his children. And just like that she inherited her huge piece of land that she turned it into Yeyani Resort.
Her first marriage was far from easy, plagued with abuse, she says.
The journey to her new beginning was far from easy. But fate had its own rhythm. Just after completing a 40-day fast, something extraordinary unfolded she met the love of her life. In the heart of the UK, she found a man who was not just tall and handsome, but successful and radiantly kind; Mr Hillman.
“I was glowing, like a snack,” she says with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. “And my husband? He couldn’t resist me.”
He embraced her four children and adopted them, and together, they created a life filled with love. He gifted them a grand home on the outskirts of London, where each child had a room of their own a haven of peace and promise.
In London, beneath the golden glow of the setting sun, they exchanged vows, with a horse and carriage gliding through a vineyard an unforgettable moment of magnificence.
“Whenever I’m stuck with bills at my resort, I run my business like a philanthropy, I need to get more serious and run it as a business” she laughed, “I just tell him. And he sighs, ‘Sarah...’ then bails me out. He’s supportive, smart, generous, and endlessly kind.”
Her work and spirit have taken her to unimaginable places. After being elected councilor, she was once invited to dinner at a castle by Lord Berth an experience that marked a surreal milestone in her journey from a struggling mother in Kenya to a respected leader in the UK.
“I was a good listener,” she reflects. “And I made real changes, especially in fighting racism in our community.”
Though uninterested in political power, Sarah is unwavering in her mission to eradicate poverty in Kenya. She continues to feed and support children in Kibra living with HIV. “How do I afford all this?” she laughs. “I cook. I travel to festivals, I serve food, and I turn flavors into impact.”
One of her proudest accomplishments remains the Remember Africa Award. Yet for all the accolades and recognition, she remains humble always choosing service over spotlight.
Sarah’s story is a powerful reminder of what it means to transform pain into purpose, and to stay true to your roots while building castles in new lands. She is a woman of strength, grace, and golden lipstick a voice for the unheard, and a heart for the world.
