For this year’s Mother’s Day, we approached women from various sectors and posed the question: “What does motherhood mean to you?” The responses were a perfect blend of love and tenderness, served with a side of inspiration.
From younger mums who are in awe of the surprises that keep unwrapping themselves each day to older mums who are now navigating life with adult children, the constant was that the bond never fades, even though the roles shift with time.
People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua speaks at Ambassador Church in Ciagiini village, Kirinyaga County.
Photo credit: George Munene | Nation Media Group
“Motherhood is among life’s greatest joys. It is the extension of oneself through nurturing life and contributing not only to the survival of one’s own lineage, but to the continuity of humankind itself. It matters not whether one is a birth mother or an adoptive mother; the joy and responsibility are no less profound. Motherhood is witnessing God’s miracle unfold before your very eyes — watching a child grow through every milestone, every struggle for survival, every new dawn.
Motherhood deepens one’s appreciation of their own mother — her sacrifices, her trials and tribulations, her joys, and her triumphs. As I nurture my children and grandchildren, I see my own mother, God bless her, still worrying about me even now. Such is the nature of motherhood: it is full-time, lifelong, and without retirement.
As a leader, my concern extends beyond my own family. The children and grandchildren of Kenya — indeed of the world — are, in many ways, all our children. It is for them that I seek transformation: economic, social, and political liberation for my country and our region, so that future generations may grow up in dignity, opportunity, peace, and justice, and inherit a better nation than the one we found.”
Four-time New York Marathon champion, three-time London Marathon champion)
“Motherhood means a lot to me. It is love in its purest form and is about sacrifice, strength and giving care without expecting anything in return. As mothers, we carry not only our children but also their hopes and dreams every single day. Balancing motherhood and my athletics career was not always easy, but it taught me discipline, patience and resilience. There were moments when I had to make difficult choices, but my children and husband gave me even more motivation to work hard and succeed.
As an athlete, training and competing required a lot of commitment because sometimes I had to travel for races and spend time away from my family. That was emotionally difficult, but I always reminded myself that everything I was doing was also for the future of my children and family. Motherhood also changed the way I looked at life and sport. It made me stronger mentally because I knew there were people depending on me beyond the races, and every victory became more meaningful because I was not only running for myself but also for my family. Being a mother and an athlete, I learnt how to balance training, recovery, and family responsibilities. It was challenging, but with support from family and proper planning, it became possible.
Even after retiring from athletics, the values I learnt through motherhood and sport continue to guide me every day because it has taught me patience, humility and unconditional love, and I am grateful for every lesson that journey has given me.
Director for Marketing, Communication and Citizenship, National Bank
Bernadette W. Ngara.
Photo credit: Pool
“For me, motherhood has evolved into something quieter, deeper, and far more intentional than it was in the early years. As a C-suite executive, I have spent decades making decisions, guiding teams, and shaping outcomes; however, raising adult children has taught me the discipline of stepping back.
Today, motherhood is less about directing and more about trusting; less about protecting and more about preparing. With my children now living and building lives in different countries, I have come to understand that success in parenting is not measured by proximity, but by the strength of the values they carry when you are not in the room. I have learnt to offer perspective without imposing it — to ask, ‘What do you think you should do?’ before giving my view. It is a deliberate shift from being the primary decision-maker in their lives to being a sounding board they can trust. In many ways, this phase requires more restraint and emotional intelligence than the earlier years.
This season of motherhood has made me a more reflective leader as well. I find that the same principles apply in the boardroom: empowering people, trusting their judgment, and creating environments where they can thrive independently. Just as with my children, leadership is no longer about control; it is about stewardship. Motherhood has taught me that letting go is not a loss of influence; it is the highest form of it. And perhaps that is what motherhood means to me today: raising individuals who no longer need you in the same way, but who still choose to carry your voice, your values, and your love with them wherever they go.”
Two-time 3,000m junior champion, 2014 Commonwealth Games 5,000m champion.
Mercy Cherono.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“Motherhood has completely changed the way I look at life and athletics because earlier, running was mainly about competition and achieving my goals on the track; now, everything I do is also for my children because they are my greatest motivation every single day.
Being a mother and an athlete is not easy because both require a lot of dedication, patience and sacrifice. There are days when training is tough, and at the same time, my children need my attention, but I always try to give my best in both roles because family comes first.
My daughters inspire me a lot, and I want them to grow up knowing that with discipline, hard work and determination, they can achieve anything in life. Every time they watch me train or compete, I hope they learn the value of commitment and never giving up. Training as an elite athlete while raising children requires proper planning and support, and my schedule is always very organised because I have to balance training sessions, recovery, family responsibilities and spending quality time with my children and husband. It can be exhausting, but motherhood has made me mentally stronger.
There are moments when I feel tired physically and emotionally, especially after long training sessions or competitions, but when I go home and see my children, everything becomes worth it because they give me peace, happiness and renewed energy to continue pushing myself.
I am very grateful for the support system around me, especially my husband, because we work together as a team, and that balance has helped me continue pursuing my career while also being present as a mother. When I travel for races or training camps, I have peace of mind knowing my family is well taken care of.
As a woman, I want other mothers to know that having children does not mean the end of your dreams. You can still pursue your goals, work hard and succeed because motherhood should never be seen as a limitation; it can also become a source of strength and inspiration.
Chief Financial Services Officer, Safaricom
Esther Waititu, Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom PLC
Photo credit: Pool
“Being a mother is a journey that has completely changed how I see myself and the world around me. It has made me more nurturing, patient and grounded, and it has taught me humility in very real ways. I have discovered a deeper resilience and courage within myself, driven by the awareness that little eyes are always watching and learning from me. Raising twins has added a whole new layer to this experience. It has stretched me, challenged me and at the same time doubled the joy and the responsibility. It has pushed me to let go of perfection, to adapt quickly, and to accept the beautiful chaos that comes with caring for two little humans at once. In the process, I have become more compassionate with myself and more flexible in how I approach life.
Motherhood has shown me that patience, resilience and sacrifice are not big, dramatic moments, but the small, consistent acts of love we give every day. It is also about being intentional with the values I pass on, like respect, while drawing from how I was raised, especially by my parents. For me, balance now looks like the little things, making time for connection, sharing moments of joy, and being present. It also means remembering to take care of myself, so that even on the days I feel stretched, I can still show up for my children in the way they need me.”
Head of Communications, Kenya Breweries Limited
Waithera Mwai.
Photo credit: Pool
“Motherhood has no manual, and no one truly has it all figured out. To me, it’s love in action expressed daily, stretched and sometimes tested at full volume, especially when you’re raising two energetic boys who think silence is a punishment. It’s delivering at work during the day, then coming home to referee WWE matches, helping with homework, and managing the wind-down routine. But in the middle of all that chaos is the purest kind of love, the spontaneous hugs, the ‘Mum, you’re the best,’ the way they still look for me first when they’re hurt or unsure that refills my cup. For me, it works because of the community — my husband, family, friends who step in when I am running on empty.”
Country Lead and Vice President for Global Delivery, Sama
Annepeace Alwala, the Vice President for Global Service Delivery at Sama,
Photo credit: Pool
“Motherhood is stewardship in capital letters. It is the greatest gift from the almighty Lord with an obligation to steward the next generation. Indeed, stewardship is knowing that my children were created for a specific purpose in their generation that’s unique to each of them. As a proud mother, my job is to nurture their talents, skills and everything they’ve been given to fulfil their purpose. This means I rely on their creator for wisdom in the decisions I make that will influence everything in their lives as they grow within Christian tenets.
In addition, Motherhood for Mama Boys like me also means being pricked by toys left all over the house and having to say over and over again that toys should be cleaned up after play. I guess this, along with the occasional disciplinary sessions, serves to remind one of the unique place we enjoy as mothers.”
Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Director, Bamburi Cement
Bamburi Cement Sustainability Director Jane Wangari.
Photo credit: Pool
“When I think about what motherhood means to me, I think about two boys who changed my life for the better. As an Engineer, I grew up pursuing academic excellence, and motherhood has taught me patience. Everything science and engineering impart from an academic perspective is greatly moderated by motherhood. Motherhood defines my womanhood and life in a great way, and shows me joy in the simplest moments. Right from pregnancy to childbirth, late nights to the first attempt to walk or speak, baptism, school runs, and all, motherhood is a series of milestones and the greatest privilege of my life.”
Suzanna Owiyo.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“Motherhood is a profound experience that doesn’t come with a manual; it is a reflection of strength, nurturing, patience, and sacrifice. While I live my life in the public eye, that has never changed my core duty as a mother. I have had to be very intentional in navigating that balance, especially when it comes to societal pressure.
I have one daughter called Nadia. I am often asked why I don’t have many children, but motherhood isn’t a numbers game or a checklist; it’s about the depth of quality and the strength of the connection.
I think about my mother, ‘Nyopiyo’, every day as my ultimate pillar and the root of my strength. She taught me that you don’t have to be loud to be strong, and I strive to carry that same quiet strength into how I raise my daughter.”
Group HR Director, East African Breweries Limited
“May 10 holds a cherished place in my heart as it marks the start of my personal journey into motherhood, starting 22 years ago. The years since have been a masterclass in life’s most essential lessons, teaching me the true meaning of selflessness, the weight and grace of sacrifice, and the profound joy found in sharing, caring, and giving without reservation. This journey with my daughters is one I deeply treasure as I usher them forward into their own lives.”
Director Customer Experience, Brand and Marketing, Britam
“Motherhood has been discovering that my daughter is not just mine to raise. She is mine to know, to laugh with, to grow alongside. Somewhere between the routines and responsibilities, she has become my little best friend, in the purest, most unexpected way.
It’s in the conversations that start small and somehow become everything. The random questions, the laughter that catches me off guard, the quiet moments where she just wants to be near me. The way she looks for me in a room. The way my voice can just calm her down. The way she trusts me so completely, without question. There’s a weight in that kind of trust; a sacred responsibility to get it right, or at least try with everything I have. This bond is more than motherhood. It’s friendship in its earliest, most fragile form. Built on trust, on presence, on love that asks for nothing but to be felt.
Chief Justice Martha Koome speaks during the swearing-in ceremony of the new IEBC Commissioners at the Supreme Court in Nairobi on July 11, 2025.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
“When I think about motherhood, I think about my late mother, Naomi Irangu, whom we lovingly called Gaake, and the quiet strength with which she raised us in Meru. I return to the small village in Meru where I first learnt what sacrifice looks like from my mother Gaake; that motherhood wears no title and seeks no recognition. She was not a woman of many speeches, but she taught through examples, through sacrifice, hard work and unwavering belief in her children. Looking back now, I realise she gave me something invaluable, and that is confidence before the world ever offered it to me.
I also return to the years when I was a young mother myself: exhausted, uncertain, ambitious, hopeful and carrying children on one arm, and career ambitions on the other hand.
Becoming a mother changed me in ways nothing else ever could. People often assume courage comes from occupying difficult offices or making weighty decisions. Certainly, leadership demands courage. The judicial role demands courage. But long before any courtroom tested me, motherhood had already tested me.
I still remember those years as a young wife, student and mother trying to hold everything together at once. There were days I was exhausted before morning had even fully begun. Days filled with lectures, assignments, family responsibilities and the constant anxiety of wondering whether I was doing enough.
I know many mothers understand this kind of fatigue intimately, the kind of fatigue a mother holds at times and becomes the exhaustion that becomes part of your rhythm of life. And yet, strangely, motherhood also became my greatest source of strength.
My children give meaning to sacrifice. They reminded me why perseverance mattered. Even on difficult days, there is always something grounding about returning home to family; to laughter, noise, school stories, ordinary conversations, basically to motherhood. Those moments keep me human. They reminded me that beyond professional ambition, life is ultimately about family, relationships and love.
Motherhood also taught me something else: that children do not need perfection from us; they need our presence.
There were times I worried I was falling short; times I wondered whether balancing career and family was asking too much of myself.
But over time, I learnt that motherhood is not about performing perfection. It is about showing up consistently with love, honesty and courage.
As Chief Justice, I often encounter people carrying invisible struggles like families in conflict, children seeking protection, and women trying to rebuild dignity after hardship. Motherhood has made me more sensitive to these human realities.
It taught me that justice must never lose compassion. The law is important, but people matter more. Behind every case file is a human story. And perhaps that is what motherhood means most to me since it taught me how to care deeply without becoming weak, how to remain firm without losing tenderness, and how to lead without forgetting humanity.
Even now, after years in public service, some of my most meaningful moments are still the simplest ones: conversations with my children, and even children I mentor, time spent with family, and quiet moments of reflection away from public life.
But the love and responsibility that come with motherhood remain woven permanently into who you are.
This Mother’s Day 2026, I celebrate all mothers, especially those whose sacrifices may never be publicly recognised. The women who wake up every day and keep going despite exhaustion, uncertainty or hardship. So much of society rests on their unseen labour.”
