Esther Muitha, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fiftess Househelp Agency. Photo courtesy.
Reliable domestic and household-support workers are becoming an important part of life for families living and working on farms.
According to Esther Muitha, Founder and CEO of Fiftess Househelp Agency, farming families often work long hours and need dependable support with childcare, cooking, cleaning, elderly care and general household management.
“Reliable domestic and household-support staff are very important to families living and working on farms,” Muitha says. “Agricultural production often demands long hours and close attention, and dependable support with childcare, cooking, cleaning, elderly care and household management allows family members to concentrate on farming and related business activities.”
However, finding suitable workers can be difficult, particularly for households located away from major towns and cities.
In fact, some employers still depend on informal referrals, which can create uncertainty about a worker’s background, skills and suitability for the job.
“The main recruitment challenges include finding trustworthy workers, relying on unverified informal referrals, unclear job descriptions and difficulty retaining staff in remote locations,” she says.
She adds that problems can also arise when workers accept jobs without fully understanding where they will live, their duties, accommodation arrangements or working conditions.
“Clear communication and proper matching before placement are therefore essential,” says the CEO.
The challenge is also linked to the movement of job seekers across the country as many people from rural counties move to urban centres and other regions looking for regular employment, with domestic work providing an important source of income, especially for women with limited access to formal jobs.
Muitha says some workers are also willing to take jobs in agricultural regions when employment conditions are clearly explained.
“We also see candidates who are willing to work in agricultural regions when the terms, location and living arrangements are clearly explained,” she says.
But movement between counties can expose job seekers to fraudulent recruiters, unsafe accommodation, exploitation and jobs where duties and salaries are not clearly defined.
Structured recruitment, she says, can reduce some of these risks by ensuring workers know who their employer is and what they are accepting before they travel.
Fiftess’ stages of recruitment
At Fiftess Househelp Agency which offers domestic staffing services in Nairobi and countrywide, recruitment involves several stages aimed at understanding both the worker and the household seeking staff.
“Our process includes physical interviews, original identification checks, reference and background checks, assessment of experience and communication skills, biometric fingerprinting and compatibility evaluation,” says Muitha.
The agency also gathers details about the household, including its location, duties, the number and ages of children, accommodation, salary, off-days and special requirements.
“This reduces uncertainty and helps candidates make informed decisions,” she says.
“Vetting establishes trust, while compatibility helps determine whether a candidate’s experience, personality and expectations are suitable for the household.”
Members of the Fiftess Househelp Agency team at the agency’s office in Nairobi, Kenya. Photo courtesy.
What employers are looking for
For farm families, the skills required go beyond basic household duties. Employers are looking for workers who can be trusted to handle children, prepare food, maintain hygiene and communicate well with other members of the household.
Muitha says farm households generally value “honesty, reliability, good communication, hygiene, childcare ability, food preparation skills, respect for boundaries, adaptability and willingness to learn.”
House managers may require organisational and supervisory skills, while caregivers may need relevant experience or professional qualifications.
However, the preparedness of job seekers varies. Some have considerable practical experience, while others need additional guidance on professional communication, employer expectations and household safety.
For those taking jobs in rural areas, Muitha says information about transport, access to shops and healthcare, accommodation, working hours and possible outdoor duties should be provided before they accept a position.
“Continuous skills development would improve job readiness and retention,” she says.
Regular income
Fiftess has also helped connect job seekers from rural counties with employment in different parts of Kenya, including households outside major urban centres.
According to Muitha, these placements can provide regular income that supports children’s education, household expenses and dependants in workers’ home counties.
At the same time, farm families benefit from having someone handle childcare, cooking and household management, allowing family members to spend more time on agricultural production, record-keeping, market access and other business activities.
Muitha says domestic employment can also help reduce the unpaid care burden that often falls disproportionately on women.
“When childcare, cooking and household management are handled responsibly, family members can participate more effectively in farming and other economic responsibilities,” she says.
Need for cooperation
With more than 10 years of experience in Kenya’s domestic-staffing sector, Muitha says stronger cooperation among recruitment agencies, farmers, employers, community leaders, training institutions and policymakers is needed.
She says agencies should verify identities, explain employment terms clearly and maintain accurate records, while employers should provide clear job descriptions, fair salaries, reasonable working conditions, adequate rest and respectful treatment.
“Written agreements, responsible recruitment standards and transparent employment terms will help professionalise domestic work and protect both workers and employers,” Muitha says.
