This archive report was first published on 5 July 2019.
House helps in Kenya have long been the backbone of many households, providing essential services to families who are often busy with their careers. However, their work is not without its challenges, and many have shared shocking stories of their experiences with their employers.
One such story involves a house help who claims to have walked in on two married men making love. The incident left her 'dumbfounded,' and she decided to blackmail them, demanding a large sum of money in exchange for her silence.
Another house help shared a story of how her former boss would make her wash her innerwear only to throw her out later, claiming that she was eyeing her husband. The house help, who wished to remain anonymous, said that she was not even thinking about the husband at the time, but her boss suspected something.
She added that the husband had agreed to pay her more than her boss had recommended, which led to the suspicion. The house help was eventually kicked out of the house, but she has since moved on and is now working for another employer.
Yet another house help shared a story of how a man she met on the street in Kilimani, Nairobi, seduced her and duped her into having sex with him after asking about her cleaning services. The man, who was driving a top-of-the-range car, offered her Sh1,000 to wash his clothes, but later gave her Sh2,000 and seduced her.
She said that she was initially hesitant but eventually gave in, and the man gave her Sh3,000. She has since continued to work for the man, but his wife has no idea what is going on.
