This archive report was first published on 6 January 2022.
Kenya's family dynamics are undergoing a significant shift, with more women taking charge of their households and redefining the traditional notion of family and marriage.
According to a recent Pan-African research, Kenya has one of the highest numbers of single-women-led households on the continent. This trend is not limited to any particular age group or economic status, with women from various backgrounds choosing to raise their children alone.
For many women, the decision to become a single mother is not a straightforward moral choice, but rather a complex mix of practical, spiritual, and emotional considerations. As 27-year-old Rose Matu, a single mother from Nairobi, puts it, 'I did not plan to have a child, but my baby's father reneged on his promise to marry me.'
Dr. Terry Khaemba, a 34-year-old single mother, also acknowledges the value of marriage but emphasizes that it is no longer a guarantee of stability and security. 'Marriage does not mean anything anymore because it's no longer like it used to be with our grandparents,' she says.
For some women, like 33-year-old Clara Mwangi, staying married was not an option due to physical and emotional abuse. 'Having someone's last name doesn't guarantee solutions to your problems,' she says.
On the other hand, some women, like 40-year-old Beverly Aketch, a journalist, deliberately chose to have a child on their own terms. 'Having a child brought me strength, helped me gather my resources together, enriched my life, and most importantly, defined me,' she says.
As the number of female-led households continues to rise, the question remains: are women becoming ungovernable, or is the boychild unable to catch up with evolving times? According to a recent report by the World Bank, 36.4% of Kenyan households are headed by women, an increase of 32% in 2014.
As Cecilia Mwende, a Kenyan on social media, puts it, 'The female became empowered, took charge of her career, reproductive health, and discovered her self-worth. Man is left confused.'
