Marion Obunga, 33 years old has been working as a house help for more than seven years. According to her, being a maid is the most challenging job and it can really mess up your life but because everyone has some bills to pay, you have to endure all the pain and suffering.
She said it is one of the worst working environments because no one respects you including the kids that you are working for.
“My name is Marion Obunga. I’m 33 years old na nimefanya job ya housegirl for at least 7 years. Nimepitia the worst experiences na nimevumilia vitu the average worker hawezi. We live in people’s homes and become their slaves.” she wrote.
THREAD 1/ Working as a house girl has never been easy. Ni the most challenging job na pia it can really mess up your mental health. Lakini because we have bills to pay, huwa tunang’ang’ana tu. Naeza sema it’s one of the worst working environments. No one respects you. Hata watoto
— Marion Obunga (@MarionObunga) August 3, 2021
In 2018, Marion Obunga was working for a top female TV presenter. She said that her work environment was a total hell because her employer never pays her, there were no off days, she was not allowed to look at her employer directly, and was forced to speak English all the time.
One day, her boss had an event in Westland and she was told to bring her a wig. Traffic was bad and she was using a tax so she was late. At the moment she arrived, she grabbed the wig, there it to her face and slapped her and she was sacked immediately without being paid.
She once had an event in Westlands na akanishow nimpelekee a certain wig urgently. Traffic was bad na nilikuwa ndani ya Uber. Nikachelewa kufika na the moment I arrived, she grabbed the wig, threw it to my face, slapped me and then sacked me on the spot. Sikuwai lipwa salary.
— Marion Obunga (@MarionObunga) August 3, 2021
After few months, Obunga got another job as a house girl but this time, she was working for an Indian couple that would force her to watch a group sex every Saturday in their basement.
She was forced to dress up in uniforms, got intoxicated then told to go to the basement where Indians on drugs would perform group sex.
“And then I worked for this strange Indian couple that would, every Saturday, force me to watch group sex in their basement. Tulikuwa house girls watatu. We would be dressed up in uniforms, tunaleweshwa alafu we go to the basement where Indians on drugs would perform group sex” Obunga said
After watching them for hours, after they have done, she was told to remain behind for her to clean up the things that those Indians were using including lubricants, condoms, sex toys among others.
Despite all these, she was being paid better compared to former employers but she decided to quit because the working environment was not good.
In 2019, She got another job, this time around, there were tow couple that was all over the new. The wife planned to kill her husband because the husband was cheating on her. Luckily, her husband knew the plan so he called cops on her before he was killed.
“And in 2019, I worked for this couple that was all over the news. Bibi aliplan na majamaa wakam kwao wamalize mzee wake for cheating. Kumbe mzee knew of the plan. The moment majamaa walifika, cops stormed into the house. It was the bloodiest, noisiest shootout nishaawai ona”
Marion Obunga said that every day she had to go through a different experience. Either she will not be paid, her boss kids used to turn her into a slave, racism being abused and also being forced to sit away from family members.
In 2020, she got another job but this time around, it was a rich politician and she worked for them for eight months. For more than 243 days, Obunga was not allowed to have a phone. She was not allowed to go out of the house or even to speak to any member of that family.
“Last year, I worked for this rich politician couple for eight months and hiyo time yote, sikuwa allowed kuwa na simu. Nilikaa mteja for 243 days. I didn’t contact anyone for all that long. Na sikuwa ata allowed kutoka iyo nyumba. Ama ata kuongea na a member of that family” Obunga said.
Obunga used to take her boss kids to the malls to play. After hours of playing, her madam would go to the restaurant with her kids while the husband would go to a bar next door.
She was told to remain in a car and she would wait for hours for them to come and they used to bring her leftovers.
“And this time tulikuwa tunapeleka watoto wa mdosi kwa mall kucheza. After hours of playing, Mama anaingia Chicken Inn ama KFC na watoto, Mzee anaingia a bar next door, mimi naambiwa nikangoje kwa gari. I would wait for hours. Na sijakula ata kitu. Later naletewa remains za chipo”
She said that being a house girl should be enjoyable because it is a job like any other. Employers should not ruin your mental health. She added that we are all human beings and we are supposed to be treated equally
“Haifai kutest your patience or ruin your mental health. We are humans too. Na pia, huwa tumesoma ni job tu tulikosa. We work under the toughest conditions na bado tunakuwa tested daily. Still, we keep working”
“I just quit my last job because this life imekuwa too rough. I don’t even mind the small kasalary si hupewa. All we want is respect. Na kukuwa recognized kama humans tu. Am a single mother and has to hassle for her kids. But naona nikichizi aki kama hii ndio life nafaa kuishi”
She has passion in writing and she is currently working on a book about the life of a house help. She is looking for someone who can help her because she knows there are so many girls out there who are going through the same and she has so many stories to tell.
“I’m currently jobless na siwes mind a better job or even my own small bizna. If you wish to help please do so. Binadamu ni kujiongea. Siwez mind lunch. Ama ata supper. Or clothes or anything tu. Support me on 0745925197 and follow me too niwakeep updated. Am sure I’ll pull thru.”