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Upcoming event for grieving mums by Nelius Mukami

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Nelius-Mukami-Rwamba
Photo: muqamiscircle on IG

By Maryanne W. Waweru l maryanne@mummytales.com

Nelius Mukami Rwamba is a Kenyan mom and businesswoman running a Foundation that supports families with premature babies. The Kena Foundation also advocates on issues around maternal mental health. Nelius’s advocacy work is inspired by her own personal motherhood experiences.

Eight years ago, Nelius a gave birth to triplets but sadly, she lost two of them —her precious baby girl and her brave baby boy. While announcing an upcoming event for grieving moms, dubbed: ‘A Healing Circle for Grieving Mothers’ slated for Saturday 26 April 2025, Nelius says that while the absence of her babies changed her forever, their love continues to live in her.

“I know firsthand that grief doesn’t end. It shifts, it softens—but it stays. And in that grief, we still mother. We still love.”

It is for this reason that Nelius is reaching out to hold a space for those who carry this silent kind of love… the kind wrapped in loss.

“This is not a therapy session. It’s not a place where someone will tell you how to feel. This is a circle of mothers; a circle of hearts; where we gather to say our children’s names, to cry if we must, to share if we wish, and to simply be.

We will honor our grief because it is valid. We will celebrate our children because their lives matter. We will sit together in kindness, in truth, and in tenderness.

Grief has no timeline. No rules. No “right” way. But it does deserve a space.

Join us—whether you are a grieving mother, a friend who wants to stand beside one, or family who simply wants to understand. In this sacred space, you will be seen, heard, and held.

Let’s no longer suffer in silence. Let’s heal forward—together.

If you’ve ever lost a child—during pregnancy, in infancy, or at any stage—you are not alone. You are still a mum. And you always will be.”

Event details

Date: Saturday 26 April 2025

Venue: Hotel Tobriana, Jacaranda Close, Ridgeways, Kiambu

Time: 2pm – 5pm

Charges: Ksh1,500

Organizer: MuQamis Circle by Nelius Mukami Rwamba

Contacts: +254 725 605 117 or +254 701 405 559

Email: muqamiscircle@gmail.com

Nelius emphasizes that: “Muqamis Circle is a safe, gentle space created for us. For the mothers who may not have photos to post, birthdays to plan, or school runs to do—but whose hearts are full of a love that never fades.

We will gather to say our children’s names, to cry, to sit in silence, to share if we wish—and simply be. No pressure, no judgment. Just kindness, presence, and deep understanding.

If you know a mother who needs this space, please share this with her. And if that mother is you, come just as you are. You are so deeply welcome.”

Also read: “How many children do you have?” Answering this question after a stillbirth -Wendy Mwatha’s story

Also watch: Nelius Mukami speaks on losing two babies from her triplets

Nelius-Mukami-Rwamba

Do you have an upcoming event targeting mothers in Kenya? You can share the details with me on maryanne@mummytales.com

Mummy Tales by Maryanne W. Waweru is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBEINSTAGRAM l TWITTER

Why I took my teenage daughter to the family planning clinic

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teenage-pregnancy-Kenya

This is one mother’s story, as narrated to Maryanne W. Waweru l maryanne@mummytales.com

As a I sit patiently with my 19-year-old daughter in the queue at the family planning clinic, I take note of the side eyes being cast our way by other clients, all of them women. I’m here to ensure that my daughter gets a contraceptive, because I cannot afford for her to have another child. Again.

I am a widow, and a mother of three daughters. She is my first child, while her follower is 14, and the last is aged 9 years. I eke a living as a cleaner employed by the City Council. On a daily basis, you will find me sweeping the streets of Nairobi. We live in the Eastlands side of Nairobi in a decent two-bedroom house that serves us well.

Pregnant school girl

My daughter got her first child when she was a Form 2 student at a local secondary school. The alleged father of her child, a boda boda rider, abandoned her as soon as she informed him of the pregnancy.

Disappointed, and with stern warnings for her not to repeat the same ‘mistake’ again, I accepted matters and together with a supportive school administration, she continued with her studies throughout the pregnancy.

‘Shame’ of teenage motherhood

She however did not return to the same school after delivery because, as a new mother, she said she didn’t feel comfortable going back there as she feared being ridiculed and shamed. I transferred her to a different school where she thankfully, completed her Form 4 education and attained a grade C in KCSE. I was proud of her and began looking for money to enroll her for a TVET course. If only I knew what lay ahead.

Another bombshell!

Mid-last year, my daughter dropped another bombshell on me. She told me she was pregnant! Again! I temporarily went mad for about a month. How could she do it? Again?

She delivered her second son in March 2025. The father of this child is different from the first one. Unbelievable! The second man is not supportive either, meaning that both she and her sons rely on me.

Also read: Why I put my teenage daughter on the contraceptive injection

That is why we are here at the family planning clinic. I have decided she will get a long-term contraceptive because she will not pregnant again -at least not under my roof! She didn’t seem to learn from her first pregnancy, and I fear that she will get pregnant again –by a different unsupportive man no less. I cannot afford another mouth to feed. She will not get pregnant in my house again. I want her to get the five-year contraception. I have discussed it with her, and she agreed to it.

So, when you see mothers with their teenage daughters queuing for services at the family planning clinic, just let them be. You don’t know what they are dealing with.

Also read: How I became a teenage mother of two in quick succession

What are your thoughts on this mother’s decision to accompany her daughter to the family planning clinic? Share your thoughts below. If you have a teen pregnancy story you’d like to share, email me on maryanne@mummytales.com

Mummy Tales by Maryanne W. Waweru is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBEINSTAGRAM l TWITTER

Kenyan Hospital using TikTok to promote maternal health

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A hospital in Thika, Kiambu County, is using TikTok to educate expectant mothers on the importance of pre- and post-natal care to help curb maternal mortality. Mary Help the Sick Hospital hopes the platform will help create more awareness about reproductive health and newborn care. (KBC)

“How many children do you have?” Answering this question after a stillbirth

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Wendy-Mwatha
Screen grab: Life With Wendy Mwatha on YouTube

By Maryanne W. WAWERU

When you ask Wendy Mwatha how many children she has, she never hesitates to respond ‘three’. The 29-year-old flight attendant, fashion model and content creator who shares motherhood, travel and lifestyle content on her Instagram, YouTube and TikTok channels, is a mother of two handsome boys and one beautiful daughter ‘who is now an angel’.

Wendy lost her daughter in 2021, an experience that she documented on her YouTube channel.

Wendy never says she is a mother of two, and she shares her reasons why.

“Because that would be a disservice to myself, because I carried her in my body, I nurtured her and I laboured for her for a good eight hours and I gave birth to her and I held her little, tiny body in my arms and I kissed her, and she was somebody. She was my daughter. It is unfortunate that she passed away, but why should I not acknowledge the fact that she is my child?” Wendy said in this heartfelt post on Instagram.

The mother of three went on to encourage fellow women who have ever experienced the loss of a child.

“To fellow moms who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth or have lost their child in one way or another, let society not dictate how you choose to remember your child, because at the end of the day, he or she was part of you.”

Kenya: stillbirth statistics snapshot (source)

  • A stillbirth is defined as a baby who is born without any signs of life after 28 weeks of pregnancy or in the third trimester
  • Kenya’s stillbirth rate is reported at 19 per 1,000 births
  • Stillbirth can occur during pregnancy and prior to birth, before labor begins (antepartum stillbirth), as well as during labor and birth (intrapartum stillbirth)
  • In Kenya, 53% of stillbirths occurred during labor and birth, while 47% occurred during pregnancy
  • Stillbirths are caused by various factors; some are known while others are unknown. Approximately 1 in 3 stillbirths do not have known causes.

If you have ever experienced or a stillbirth or child loss, how do you usually respond to the question: “how many children do you have?” What have you found works best for you? If you’d like to share your story, please email me at: maryanne@mummytales.com

Mummy Tales by Maryanne W. Waweru is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBEINSTAGRAM l TWITTER

‘Sarah’ the Kenyan movie: a review

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Namurru-Sarara

By Maryanne W. WAWERU l maryanne@mummytales.com

An uncircumcised woman smells.
An uncircumcised woman is a prostitute.
An uncircumcised woman cannot be married.
An uncircumcised woman cannot be helped during childbirth.

Those are some of the words spoken by, of, and among Maasai women, as depicted and clearly articulated in the feature film, Sarah.

Last Sunday 9 March 2025, I got to watch the film, Sarah. Sarah is a feature film shot in the heart of the Maa community in the Loita hills.

In this movie, we meet a young school-going Maasai girl, Sarah (played by Namurru Sarara). Though she doesn’t seem to concentrate much on her studies, she nevertheless loves school. And is determined to get an education. However, her traditional Maasai culture and the pressures of a long drought brought about by climate change are about to change her life.

A very tantalizing dowry offer from an old man ‘who stinks’ means that her family must choose between having her undergo the traditional circumcision ritual (female genital mutilation -FGM) and get married to the stinky old man, or miss a rare chance to rebuild their already dwindled wealth. Her father needs the money. He is keen on following traditional maasai culture.

Her mother, however, is not too certain. She risks losing her marriage if she goes against her husband’s wishes. Marriage to her, just like to many other Maasai women in her community, is everything.

The conversations by the characters are rich. We get insights into the thoughts of school-going girls about circumcision. We hear from those who have been circumcised and those who haven’t. They share their reasons about why they are for or against. Very detailed conversations.

The older women too. The mothers, the aunts and the grandmothers. We learn about why some of them strongly support FGM. Others are in the grey area. Others are completely opposed to it.

The morans and all other men as well. We get to learn from their own intimate conversations –what they think about the changing practice of circumcision in their community, and the alternative rite of passage that is gradually being embraced by families. Are the traditional Maasai cultures fading away? Is this something they should be deeply worried about?

By the way, the movie is delivered purely in the Maa language, with English subtitles. And it features a completely amateur cast who execute the assignment quite well. I absolutely loved how seriously each character played their role, especially Namurru Sarara -the lead character.

If you have worked in the NGO world interacting with grassroots communities for years like I have, then the conversations in this film are nothing new. However, it’s still good to see them produced in a well-shot and edited film like this. The film definitely sounds and feels NGO-ish. As you watch the film, you’ll get the feel that it is sponsored, that it is donor funded. Which I believe it is.

There are no surprises in this film. The Maasai story of FGM vs embracing ‘alternative rites of passage’ has been told over and over again. So if you’d like to re-learn about traditional African cultures and the dilemma that communities such as the Maa face in light of ‘modernity’, then watch Sarah.

The film would make for good screenings at the community levels. Not just targeting the Maasai people, but all communities across Kenya and beyond. There are interesting insights to learn from the themes in it.

The film, by the way, is based on the true story of Sarah Tenoi.

Catch it at Prestige Cinema, Ngong rd, Nairobi. Showing until Thursday 13 March 2025.

Also read: Mothers in rural Kajiado to benefit from new hospital -the Chief Ole Mpaa Health Centre

Mummy Tales welcomes news tips on issues related to women and health. If there’s an issue you’d like to see reported on, please email: maryanne@mummytales.com

Mummy Tales by Maryanne W. Waweru is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBEINSTAGRAM l TWITTER

Mothers in rural Kajiado to benefit from new hospital -the Chief Ole Mpaa Health Centre

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Chief-Ole-Mpaa-Health Centre

For years, residents in Oloilalei in Kajiado South Constituency have had to endure long treks through a treacherous 30-kilometre journey to access services at the nearest hospital. The arduous journey, on rough terrain, has always endangered their lives, especially for pregnant women.

“The situation has always been particularly bad for expectant women whose labour pains struck at night. We would have to embark on the dangerous journey in the dark, risking encounters with elephants on the way to the hospital,” said Ann Ntasikoi, a resident in Oloilalei.

Thankfully, Ann and other residents can now heave a sigh of relief following the commissioning of a new hospital in the area -the Chief Ole Mpaa Health Centre. The facility will now enable populations in unreached areas in rural Kajiado to access services in a place that is closer to them. The Chief Ole Mpaa Health Centre comprises an outpatient section, a maternity wing, a laboratory, and a radiology section among other critical clinical services.

Also read: How I lost my wife to delivery complications: a Kenyan father shares his story

Elizabeth Tantaine, another resident also expressed relief at the new health facility, saying that it will help in improving the quality of care for mothers and their newborn babies.

“I am elated that we now have a maternity unit nearby. Due to the distance we had to trek before getting antenatal and postnatal services, many mothers used to forego antenatal checkups and taking their babies for monthly clinics. Now with a health facility just a few kilometers away, they will not miss such essential services,” she said.

Source: KNA Photo: J. Lenku.

Also read: Maternal health services boosted in Kiptangwanyi, Gilgil sub-County

Also read: Breastfeeding room launched in Ndhiwa Comprehensive School to support lactating teachers

Mummy Tales welcomes news tips on issues related to maternal health care. If there’s an issue you’d like to see reported on, please email: maryanne@mummytales.com

Mummy Tales by Maryanne W. Waweru is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBEINSTAGRAM l TWITTER

Maternal health services boosted in Kiptangwanyi, Gilgil sub-County

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Kiptangwanyi-maternity-dispensary
Some of the beds at the new Kiptangwanyi maternity unit.

By Maryanne W. WAWERU l maryanne@mummytales.com

Expectant mothers from the village of Kiptangwanyi, Elementaita Ward in Gilgil sub-County, Nakuru County now have closer access to maternal health services following the establishment of a new 24-bed maternity unit at Kiptangwanyi Dispensary.

Previously, the mothers had to rely on Gilgil sub-county Hospital, or the Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital for these services –a distance of approximately 60 km from Kiptangwanyi. The new facility will offer comprehensive maternity services at the ward level, thereby reducing referrals to Level 4 and 5 hospitals. It will also allow mothers to receive quality care closer to home.

About 1,849 women in Elementaita ward receive antenatal care (ANC) services annually. The establishment of the 24-bed maternity at Kiptangwanyi Dispensary is expected to raise this number, as the facility is aimed at enhancing maternal and child health by improving healthcare services, reducing congestion, and cutting down on the long distances that mothers have to make to access maternal health services.

The new maternity unit will offer prenatal care, skilled birth attendance, postnatal support, nutritional counselling, and mental health services to ensure safe deliveries and better maternal health outcomes. Through the new maternity unit, it is expected that there will be reduced maternal and neonatal mortality in Gilgil sub-County and neighbouring areas.

Kiptangwanyi-maternity-DispensaryKiptangwanyi-maternity-DispensaryPhotos credit: Nakuru County Government

Mummy Tales welcomes news tips on issues related to maternal health care. If there’s an issue you’d like to see reported on, please email: maryanne@mummytales.com

Mummy Tales by Maryanne W. Waweru is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBEINSTAGRAM l TWITTER

Breastfeeding room launched in Ndhiwa Comprehensive School to support working mothers

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Photo courtesy: KEWOTA

By Maryanne W. WAWERU l maryanne@mummytales.com

Tr. Anyango is a Junior Secondary School (JSS) teacher at Ndhiwa Comprehensive School in Homa Bay County, teaching grades 7 – 9. She is also a new mother. Tr. Anyango has been facing various challenges pertaining to her responsibilities as a new mother, and her work.

“Sometimes when I’m in school, I’m told that my son is crying and doesn’t want to eat anything. When this happens, I have to ask for permission from the School Head to return home to breastfeed him before rushing back to school,” she says.

According to Tr. Anyango, many are the times when a mother has prepared herself to go to work in the morning, and at the last minute, the house help suddenly announces that she will not be reporting for duty that day or is quitting her job. This leaves the new mother completely stranded as she has no immediate alternative help that can step in on such short notice.

It also means that the mother has to call her employer to excuse herself from duty as she sorts out that emergency. Tr. Anyango says that many female teachers, including those who are breastfeeding, often find themselves in such predicaments.

It is these kinds of scenarios that Tr. Anyango and many other lactating female teachers face that inspired the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) to establish a breastfeeding parlour in the school.

Launched on 14 February 2025, the breastfeeding parlour is intended to support female teachers. The room is a safe space where they can comfortably breastfeed and interact with their babies while on their teaching breaks or when necessary, thereby enhancing their mental health and wellbeing while at work. This in turn helps them be more at ease as they focus on their duties.

The breastfeeding room at Ndhiwa Comprehensive School can comfortably host about 10 – 15 nursing mothers at any given time. This is able to cover all the teachers in the school who may need to use the facility.

The lactating mothers may opt to bring their child to work, or they can ask their house help to bring the child over when they are on a break from their lessons. In the room, they can comfortably nurse their babies before returning to class. Knowing that their babies are well fed, are resting well, and are generally well cared for in the room will give them peace of mind and thus significantly boosting their productivity at work.

Mercy Odhiambo, the KEWOTA Coordinator for Homa Bay County says that the establishment of the breastfeeding parlour at Ndhiwa Comprehensive School is a notable achievement. She says that KEWOTA, whose main mandate is to ‘work for the woman teacher’ has been advocating for such a facility as it will go a long way in addressing the challenges that female teachers with small babies face. She has urged school heads across the country to take up the same initiative, reiterating KEWOTA’s commitment to facilitate the establishment of the same in other schools.

Dulo Nedy, the Deputy Head Teacher at Ndhiwa Comprehensive School welcomed the initiative, saying that indeed, the breastfeeding parlour will be of immense benefit to lactating teachers at the school. She said that the comfort of knowing that their babies are around them will assist in their mental health.

In cases where they do not have a caregiver at home to watch over their babies, the Deputy Head Teacher said that the facility will help address this problem as the teacher will now be able to bring their child over to school and attend their lessons as required, while the baby is being cared for in the room.

This, she says, will reduce cases of absenteeism, especially in situations where teachers are left stranded when the house helps leave them stranded and they have to miss their lessons as they resolve the issues at home. She added that the benefits of the breastfeeding room will calm the teacher’s minds and ultimately enhance their output in school.

Information source: Nation 

How does your workplace support new mothers? Is there a breastfeeding room? Does it offer flexible working arrangements? You can comment down below, or you can write to me at maryanne@mummytales.com with this information. 

Mummy Tales by Maryanne W. Waweru is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBEINSTAGRAM l TWITTER

Kenya transitions to single-dose HPV vaccination regimen

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cervical-cancer-Kenya

Kenya has introduced the single-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which offers effective protection against the human papillomavirus (HPV) -the primary cause of cervical cancer. Previously, the HPV vaccine required a two-dose regimen (three in some cases) for enhanced protection.

Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director General of Health has urged parents and caregivers to ensure that all eligible girls aged 10 – 15 years receive the vaccine. He also called on healthcare professionals, parents, and the media to play an active role in raising awareness and debunking myths surrounding cervical cancer.

Also read: Why I took my daughter for the HPV vaccine -journalist Sarah Kimani’s story

The latest GLOBOCAN 2022 report reports that Kenya records 5,845 new cases and 3,591 deaths each year, making cervical cancer a significant public health challenge.

According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly all people who are sexually active will become infected with HPV at some point in their lives. Most HPV infections go away on their own within a year or two as the immune system controls the infection. These short-term infections do not cause cancer. When a high-risk HPV infection lasts for years, it can lead to changes in the cervical cells, resulting in a precancerous lesion. If the precancerous lesion is not found and removed, it may eventually develop into cervical cancer.

People who become sexually active at a young age, especially before age 18, or have multiple sexual partners are more likely to become infected with a high-risk type of HPV.

Kenya’s Ministry of Health has launched a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening awareness on cervical cancer, promoting early screening, and enhancing community engagement. These include nationwide advocacy campaigns, partnerships with the STOP Cervical Cancer Coalition, and training programs for healthcare workers on the latest advancements in cervical cancer management.

For any feedback about this article, email maryanne@mummytales.com

Mummy Tales is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBEINSTAGRAM l TWITTER

“My church doesn’t accommodate single parents well. I need a new church.” Kenyan mother laments

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I’ve come across one Kenyan mother on TikTok by the user name @namunyakdebra who has expressed dismay at her church not having spaces/groups for single parents to meet after the main service. Usually, groups of people with similar interests meet to discuss issues of concern to them. For example widow groups, groups for young married couples as well as those who have been married for long, youth groups, men groups etc.

Her issue of concern is the church’s lack of single parents’ groups for congregants like her. She feels that single parents are unfairly discriminated against because of this. She laments about how this makes single parents like her feel left out and ‘out of place’.

The mother made the TikTok video while passing time after the main service, as she waited for her children to be released from their respective church engagements.

Visibly disappointed, she acknowledged that there’s nothing much she can do about it as it is the church’s structure. “It feels a bit unfair, but it is what it is,” she said. She is now considering finding a new church that is more accommodative of single parents like her.

@btnams

sometimes it can be overwhelming.. it’s good to go to a place that is accomodative#church #sunday#singlemom

♬ original sound – namunyakdebra

The comments section was quite interesting, with many women sharing recommendations about their own churches where they feel embraced as single parents.

Some suggested that she voice her concern to the church leadership about the absence of groups for single parents.

Others shared that it is because of such discriminative practices that they stopped going to church altogether, choosing to instead worship God from the comfort of their homes.

Others agreed with her, suggesting that she finds a church where she will feel loved and embraced as a single parent.

How about you? Does your church accommodate single parents, or do you feel that it discriminates them? As a single parent, do you have an experience that you’d like to share? You can email me at maryanne@mummytales.com

Mummy Tales by Maryanne W. Waweru is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBEINSTAGRAM l TWITTER

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