It's common to hear of Kenyan house helps suffering in the Middle East or committing crimes in Kenya.
What about the widespread of abuse of house helps and shamba boys here in Kenya?
Many describe their situations as slavery, with scant or no wages, no deductions, physical and sexual abuse and dismissal without any compensation.
More than 4,000 house helps have protested against what they call poor working conditions, lack of pay and sexual harassment.
They call these daily problems and some liken their plight to slavery ignored by government agencies.
Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) regional representative Peter Odima said at a meeting on Saturday the union has documented many of these cases in Uasin Gishu.
They involve house helps and shamba boys.
The workers are calling on the government to fully implement labour laws to protect them from frequent harassment and dismissal.
They specifically call on the Department of Labour and Social Services.
Speaking after the meeting organised by Cotu in Eldoret, domestic workers representatives described their working conditions as inhumane.
A woman identified only as GA., a single mother in Eldoret, said that after 13 years, she was dismissed by her employer, a legal practitioner, without notice. She said he denied all her dues.
"I've been working for a prominent city lawyer in Eldoret for over 13 years as a committed househelp and doubling as a night guard. He sacked me without notice," she told the meeting
She said the lawyer refused to pay her and has intimidated her, knowing she did not have financial ability to pursue her rights.
GA, who has been fighting for her dues to keep her children in school, said government offices haven't helped and no lawyer will take her case because she can't pay legal fees.
"I am tired but I haven’t given up fighting for what is rightfully mine. They did not pay me overtime for 13 years though I also worked as a night guard.
I have reported the matter to the Turbo subcounty labour offices but nothing has been done," GA said.
She expressed fear her children would have to drop out of school and said she she herself is sickly.
"I want my overtime money. I worked as a househelp and watchman for 13 years. They owe me over Sh800,000.
"I endured hell in their house, I developed high blood pressure and constantly live on medication," she said.
The situation is the same for many househelps.
Domestic worker EW said she worked for 10 years without regular pay, only occasional transport and food, and was dismissed without without notice.
"As househelps, we go through a lot of challenges, our normal day begins at 3am. We work the entire day day without rest.
"We are not allowed to eat the food we cook for our employers and our families are sometimes left without any food. This is modern-day slavery with total disregard of labour laws in this country," she said.
EW said her salary was only Sh6,000 a month that could not cater for her needs.
The workers blame employers for failing to remit NSSF and NHIF dues, among other statutory deductions.
Odima said cases of domestic managers being mistreated and going for years without pay are rampant. He said labour officers have failed to implement labour laws.
"We have received information about many cases of rights violations and we are investigating to ensure they get justice," Odima said.
Rogers Ombati, a human rights activist with the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha) condemned increasing cases of violence against domestic workers.
Ombati said all househelps should sign contracts with their employers as one way to protect their rights.
Uasin Gishu Labour officer Caroline Chemusoi could not be reached on phone to respond to the domestic workers complains.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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