By Tamlyn Canham
Being a housewife is a 24/7 type of job, but it is one of the only jobs that doesn’t come with a salary. A judge in Kenya thinks it should.
From cooking, cleaning, and taking care of their families, housewives carry most of the workload at home. Their efforts are not compensated and are usually seen as a “mommy duty”.
According to several reports, Justice Teresiah Matheka believes being a housewife is a full-time job that should be compensated.
“It is easy for the spouse working away from home and sending money to lay claim to the whole property purchased and developed with that money by the spouse staying at home and taking care of the children and the family. That spouse will be heard to say that the other one was not employed so they contributed nothing,” Independent Newspapers Nigeria quoted Matheka as saying.
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Justice Matheka was reportedly presiding over a case involving a woman who wanted 50% of the matrimonial properties following her divorce.
A previous court had ruled that marriage does not automatically make someone entitled to half of everything in the event of a divorce.
“This has to be in accordance with their respective contribution. It does not involve denying a party their due share by giving such party more than he or she contributed,” Kenyans news publication quoted the court of appeals.
But Justice Matheka believes a housewife’s contribution to the home must also be considered.
Matheka also stated that carrying a baby for nine months is equivalent to working and should be considered during matrimonial disputes.
She noted that being a surrogate mother is seen as a job, with the woman receiving payment for bearing the child.
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Social media reaction
Many social media users praised Justice Matheka for recognising the contributions housewives make.
“Being a housewife is now considered as a full-time payable job in Kenya and I’m moving tomorrow,” one woman joked.
Another woman added: “Say WHAT?! Imma pack my bags and move!”
One Twitter user says she hopes other countries will follow suit.
“I one time posted about housewife pay, it received a lot of backlash from conservatives! I am glad Kenya has finally seen the light! I hope Uganda picks a leaf soon!”
I one time posted about house wife pay, it received a lot of backlash from conservatives!
I am glad Kenya has finally seen the light!
I hope Uganda picks a leaf soon!
👇🏼
High Court judge declares being housewife a full-time payable job via @K24Tv https://t.co/QNjaHBMh3q— Nabaasa Innocent Amumpaire 🇺🇬✝️ (@NabaasaInnocent) September 26, 2021
https://twitter.com/lollseedelkoll/status/1443356352613601282
Last week, the High Court of Kenya ruled that housewife is a full-time job that should be payable, according to the Judge, housewives should not say they don’t work since they provide services in the home that are otherwise outsourced and paid for. Let reflect below picture pic.twitter.com/TZjlXpLYmv
— Moses Kabogo (@kabogo_moses) September 28, 2021
s/o to Kenya for recongising that being a housewife is a payable job. that gov is the movement
— Tentoumushi (@YoTay_) September 27, 2021
Say WHAT?! Imma pack my bags and move! pic.twitter.com/i5KmrwfKXN
— Madame CEO (@n_dlt_) September 29, 2021
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Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels


