Domestic workers protest in Kilimani over Zaitun Kavaya’s death

Domestic workers protest following the suspicious death of Zaitun Kavaya/SCREENGRAB

Domestic workers on Wednesday staged a protest in Kilimani following the death of their colleague under what they termed suspicious circumstances.

The demonstrators, who gathered along busy streets, carried placards and banners demanding justice. Some blew whistles to draw attention to their plight, while others waved twigs — a traditional symbol of mourning and resistance.

Emotions ran high as women wailed openly, calling for accountability and greater protection for workers in the domestic sector.

Police have so far arrested four Sudanese nationals — a mother, her two daughters and a son — in connection with the death.

The deceased, identified as Kavaya, had been working as a house help for the family. She died on Thursday, September 18, after allegedly jumping from the fifth-floor balcony of an apartment block in Kilimani.

According to police, the incident happened after her employers called her back to the apartment to question her about lost cash. The visitors’ logbook shows she had clocked in at 10:47am and clocked out at 1:17pm before being recalled.

Her relatives, however, have dismissed claims of suicide, insisting on a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Police have been granted 10 days to conclude investigations into the matter.