Breastfeeding mother now have a reason to smile more. Members of the Nairobi County Assembly have passed a motion which will see hotel owners within the county forced have areas designated for breastfeeding mothers. The, yet to be adopted motion by the executive, will compel it to make sure hotels have the designated zones which will be licensed by the county.
While presenting the motion, nominated MCA Doris Kanario argued breastfeeding mothers often felt uncomfortable while feeding their babies in public due to harassment. She also argued it was a right all breastfeeding mothers were entitled to.
“The lack of designated nursing areas has become a hindrance to many mothers who want to breastfeed their children while going about their daily activities,” said Kanario.
They also said the motion was in reaction to recent incidents where mothers have been prevented from nursing their children in the establishments due to lack of a designated area. “Everyone in this House was breastfed at a young age so they know that this motion is very crucial and I would like to urge members to adopt it,” said the MCA. Another nominated MCA, Anne Thumbi, also argued Nairobi should set an example to other counties by implementing the proposal.
“Nairobi, as the capital city, should prove it is sensitive to the needs of mothers. It is high time the executive becomes sensitive to the needs of mothers and puts in place laws to address this issue,” she said. This comes barely 6 months after a woman who had walked into a Nairobi restaurant and in the process opted to breastfeed, was asked to attend to her baby in the toilet. Her ordeal stoked mixed reactions from the online community with majority users condemning the particular joint for mistreating their customer.
Despite the hotel dismissing the claims it had mistreated the woman and had not been given a chance to be heard, a section of mothers took to the streets to raise awareness over the same.
The women who made their way to the eatery held placards while chanting pro-breastfeeding slogans. The angry lot who had tagged their babies along in the protest demanded breastfeeding mothers be accorded the respect they deserved.