Neighbors found a tiny two-month-old alone. The mother had gone out. It is alleged she had gone to work at the club.
Reports on social media show the crowd attacking the defenseless woman. Their anger was clear. They believed she had abandoned her child.
One commenter wrote,
“No child should be left alone. But violence doesn’t solve it.”
Another noted,
“Two wrongs don’t make a right… We need a child protection service in Kenya.”
Their words echo a widely shared frustration. Neglect is not excusable. But others disagree that violence is not the answer
As many condemn the woman, others disagree and ask the woman’s family to intervene as she maybe would be suffering from postpartum depression.
Social Media users neighbors seen attacking the women, could have first asked her what the problem was and helped instead of judging and attacking.
Kenya lacks a formal, well-functioning child protection system. Cases like these are often handled by communities. That can mean tough measures. But it rarely leads to solutions.
It’s unclear whether the mother knew help was available. Maybe she felt there was none.
One commenter offered deeper empathy:
The mother erred badly. Yet violence may leave her hurt even less able to care for her child.
In Kenya, systems, communities and services that could step in and help women in such situations are missing. Those available are only accessible to privileged leaving most mothers from struggling backgrounds vulnerable.
Neighborhoods shouldn’t be the default child protection. They lack training and oversight. A formal system could act quickly and without brutality.
The community must protect infants and the neighbors did that thinking that was the solution. Whoever, most young mothers lack support are are alone and struggling.
From that incident it is clear that Kenya needs services that can intervene compassionately. Social workers. Hotlines. Safe spaces
Their point speaks to how little support many new mothers receive.
Kenya offers a patchwork of support systems for young mothers, ranging from government initiatives like the Taifa Care programme and Social Health Authority insurance, to community health clinics with mentor mothers and the national Child Helpline 116 for emergencies.
NGOs and local groups such as Sauti Moja, Binti Shupavu, Kaloleni Young Mothers, YOMOSCO, MYWO and SHOFCO provide counselling, education, vocational training and safe spaces, while traditional midwives in rural areas are being trained to promote safer births.
Together, these efforts provide medical, legal, emotional and economic help.
The community still suggest that a stronger, more coordinated safety net is still needed.
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