Let’s celebrate mothers for the great role they play

As the World marks Mothers Day — a day set aside to appreciate the great role that mothers play — we wish to pause and give a thought to mother in Kenya who have sacrificed a lot to shape the destiny of our great nation.

From the mothers who toiled in extreme poverty when the entire country lived off subsistence farming using rudimentary tools to feed large families to the difficult times when many mothers risked leg and limb to advance the cause of the struggle for freedom in the run-up to independence.

The freedom struggle exposed mothers to extreme pain for they had to endure sexual abuse, loneliness and tragedy through the loss of their sons and husbands.

We appreciate the mothers who diligently provide motherly love and care to nurture babies and instill in them the right mores and disciplines that are essential for life. We pay tribute to the mothers who have adopted orphans and children who don’t have a mother figure in their lives and provided the tender guidance that is so critical in the growth of children.

Most of these mothers do this away from the public limelight without seeking to be recognised and without asking for anything in return.

To the mothers that have had to raise their children single-handedly without the help of a husband, we salute you.

We also recognise the mothers that have to sacrifice a great deal to balance between motherhood and their careers so as to make ends meet.

This year’s State of the World Mother report by Save the Children notes that nearly 3 million babies die within the first month of birth and that most of them die on day one of life. Fortunately for our generation, science has proved that most of the causes of these deaths are preventable. 

We call on Government to put in place measure to reduce the risks that mothers and newborns face at birth.

This is why the inclusion of more women at all levels of decision making is a step in the right direction. To all mothers and mother figures, we say Happy Mothers’ Day and may God bless you.