In September 2010, tailors and textile workers union of Kenya accused Export processing zones, EPZ, a textile company in Athi River was accused of unlawfully sacking 24 women because they had become pregnant.
It is said that the company did not want to allow the pregnant women to go on a paid three months leave as stipulated in the employment act.
In 2007, Kenya increased the number of days a pregnant woman should stay out on a paid leave from 60 days to 90 days.
According to a report published by business daily on July 20, 2015, there was a proposal to amend the employment act to exclude weekends while counting leave days, a move that would add women 24 days.
The fate that befell the 24 employees of EPZ is facing many women who are employed in private firms.
Private firms are reluctant to employ pregnant women because they will lose a lot of labour force while spending a lot to pay women on maternity leave.
This also leaves the women in a tricky situation of choosing between having a baby or keeping the job.