Nairobi, May 5 -- On paper, divorce marks the end of a marriage, but in reality, it is usually the start of a long and complicated financial separation. For instance, couples are finding themselves bound together by a mortgage, which neither can easily walk away from.

Housing data in countries such as America show that a large number of divorced or separated couples are still tied to joint mortgages, mostly due to the high refinancing costs and stricter lending requirements.

In Britain, rising interest rates have further complicated post-divorce settlements, with lenders tightening affordability thresholds, making it harder for one partner to take over a loan individually.

Joint liability

In Kenya, a growing number of couples are divo...