A Kenyan High Court judge, Teresia Matheka has reportedly declared being a mother a fulltime job that should attract some form of compensation.
The judge who was presiding over a matrimonial property dispute, said that it is unfair and unjust for courts to rule that housewives do not contribute anything to the financial progress of the family.
The complainant is said to be a divorced lady who sought to have their family property sold and the money shared equally between her and her ex-husband.
The Judge stated that housewives should not say they don’t work since they provide services in the home that are otherwise outsourced and paid for. She added that it is unfair to only rely on seen income and the mindset that one has to contribute money to the marriage to find value.
Matheka said;
“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.
“Raising children is a full-time job that families pay a person to do. Cooking and cleaning as well. Hence, for a woman in employment who has to balance childbearing and rearing this contribution must be considered.”
The judge also appealed to her counterparts to have a rethink and consider the 9 months of pregnancy when presiding over cases of matrimonial disputes. She posits that being pregnantis equivalent to working, pointing out that some couples have recenty resorted to hiring surrogate mothers to bear children and nurture them in exchange for money.
Passing the final verdict on the case, Matheka ruled that the property be sold and money shared equally, or one of the spouses buy out the other party by paying half the value of the property that the party is entitled to.
