Househelp who drives family car and takes annual leave

 Monday, May 26, 2014 



Photo/FILE Mueni has proved to be so trustworthy, that Makena entrusts her with the responsibility of monthly shopping and even gives her emergency money to spend on any miscellaneous household expenses. 

By Nation Reporter
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Not all relationships between househelps and their bosses are bad. There are those who have nurtured a humane relationship with their workers, and as a result, have managed to stay with one for years.

Purity Makena, 27, is one such employer. She hired her current househelp, Mueni Nguni, 49, almost two years ago. Theirs is a happy story that has defied the usual employer-employee drama, and matured into friendship.

“I was pregnant with my first born when I hired Mueni,” says Makena.” Mueni did not disappoint. She was a mother of three, had extensive experience as a househelp, was tidy, trustworthy, honest and humble. The background check Makena did on her did not turn up anything suspicious and she had excellent recommendations from her former employer.

“She is a very good person, and is excellent with my son, who is now almost two. Sometimes she even tries to mother me,” Makena says with a chuckle.

Mueni has proved to be so trustworthy, that Makena entrusts her with the responsibility of monthly shopping and even gives her emergency money to spend on any miscellaneous household expenses. In addition, she even enrolled her in a driving school. This means that when Makena is unable to, her househelp runs the errands.

Pay fees

For Makena, teaching Mueni to drive was a necessity, and she does not think of it as a luxury.

“One rainy night while I was out of town, my son contracted a fever,” she narrates. “My car was in the drive way, but Mueni had to beg our neighbour to drive her and the baby to hospital, by which time my son’s condition had become so bad, he was almost convulsing.”

That experience shook her so badly, that a few days later, she enrolled Mueni in a driving school. One of the most fulfilling aspects of this relationship is the fact that Makena pays school fees for one of Mueni’s children, a Form Two student. 

She has done this since the boy joined Form One, and she intends to continue educating him up to university level, whether or not Mueni will still be working for her.

Makena’s househelp gets two weeks off in December. Sundays are her day-offs.