Isebania: Concerns over alcoholism among men, more employers prefer women hires for guard jobs

According to a section of employers living in Kuria West who spoke to Wananchi Reporting, they said that many men are drowning in alcoholism and are unable to perform their duties of guarding premises and homes, leaving them exposed.

One resident who owns a building in the area said, “We have had to fire a number of men because of drinking on the job, leaving premises at risk. We are now opting to hire women.”

However, one resident, Martin Moronge, a father of four and whose wife is a guard at a high school said, “It’s not always an issue of alcoholism. In our case, we need to put food on the table so my wife insisted on getting her own job as a guard.”

He said he has had to get rid of his traditional way of thinking that men cannot do household chores.

“I cook for the kids and take care of the children at night when their mother is in the line of duty,” Moronge said.

Thomson Mageni, 54, whose wife also works as a guard at a hospital lamented how  his wife would stay away for up to three days at a time because of the long commute to and from her work station.

"My life has really changed. When you ask, she will tell you this is not the era where women stay and wait for men to bring in the money. More women are taking up guard jobs and we are left wondering what’s happening,” he said.

Locals have decried the alcoholism and drugs menace in the county.

By Jonathan Musa