How I was fired unceremoniously by a ruthless employer

For nearly eight years, Grace Osebe Ogutu reported faithfully to a small school in Nairobi’s Dandora Phase 1, where she worked as both a cleaner and a cook. To her, the job was not just a source of income; it was a lifeline for her family and a stabilizing routine that anchored her life. But a sudden and humiliating dismissal shattered that sense of stability, leaving her in financial turmoil and emotional distress.

Today, she recounts her ordeal, describing the slow unraveling of a working relationship that had once seemed promising.

Grace says she joined the school in 2018, hopeful and eager to work.

“Things started off well,” she recalls, adding “But over time, my experience became unbearable.”

According to her, the shift began with the arrival of a new school administrator whose management style clashed sharply with what staff had been used to.

One particular morning marked the turning point. The administrator had stepped out of the school for a few hours. When she returned, Grace says, the woman launched into a sudden outburst.

“She started shouting at me,” Grace recounts. “She said, ‘Why haven’t you cleaned here? You won’t work here anymore. Take your bags and go home.’”

Grace tried to explain the cleaning schedule, noting that Saturdays were notoriously difficult because of recurring weekend functions.

“I told her we don’t usually clean on Saturdays because of the functions. It’s better to clean on...