My Ugandan and Tanzanian house helps disappeared with my money and clothes
By: Sophie Opondo
Posted on Monday, October 14, 2019
We call them by different names, nannies, house helps or house managers. Calling them “maid” nowadays is considered disrespectful. How well do you know the person taking care of the children when you are away? What kind of privileges have you bestowed upon her? Is she allowed to spank your child? If she does, are you aware of it or do the children keep mum about it? The main question is, what happens when you are not at home. Do you have a clue?
Sarah Odera, a business woman, with two children has had one too many bad incidents with house helps. While in Mfangano on a long business trip, the nanny locked her then 7 year old son in the house and vanished. The neighbours learnt of this the following morning and ringed her. She left everything, anxious and worried for her son. He understood he was locked in but oblivious of his mother’s anxiety. Ms. Odera broke in her own home to find her son, all her money, Kshs.37, 000 gone, her finer clothes and valuables missing.
The house help had been recommended to her by a good friend who claimed to know the house help home town and people. Unfortunately on contacting the friend who vouched for the help, even she could not trace her roots. The lady simply vanished.
It gets worse…
Once bitten twice shy, however that was not the case with Sarah. After she had her second born daughter, requiring help in order to provide for her children became mandatory. Ms Odera was impressed by a nanny she saw at her friends place; hardworking, respectful and very Ugandan. She inquired from her friend if she could assist the mother of two now find a nanny, just like the one she had. Desperate and eager, the business lady sent Kshs.3, 000 for transport, believing the nanny was coming from Uganda. To cut a very long story short, the house manager was extremely lazy, untidy and pregnant. She fled immediately Sarah mentioned getting a pregnancy kit.She stole Ms.Odera's valuables. Adding salt to an inflamed wound, she intentionally left all the taps running, flooding the house and yes, she was not Ugandan at all. That was the last straw for the mother of two, it has been hard to trust house helps when it comes to leaving them home.
Growing up under the care of a house help …
20 year old Victor Mungai has been a victim of house helps his parents employed. More than once. As an only child then He endured their wrath in silence and at the same time being their secret keeper given they instilled fear more than the care that they were actually meant to give. Growing up he did not view it as abuse. He now believes his younger brother is going through that and does not let it happen when he is around.
Professional help…
Project manager at Mother Goose , James Kimani says parents make the mistake of relegating care to strangers and not equipping them assuming they should be aware of the dos and don’ts. Mother Goose unlike Domestic house help bureaus offer a 6 months mandatory course. They teach their students cooking different types of meals, cleaning different appliances, how to take care of children amongst other things. Placement is offered after the training. The company also act as intermediaries’ between the employer and employees. They ensure potential house helps get good salaries and that’s where the disconnect is. The common mwananchi like Sarah Odera, in the panel felt the cost of such professional nannies is expensive and she cannot afford them.
The question remains…
Just how well do you know your nanny and to what extend are you willing to invest in the person taking care of your children when you are away.
Incase you missed the video.There is a link below. Thank me later.
