Burale urges single mothers to stop celebrating themselves on Father’s Day
City preacher and life coach Robert Burale has weighed in on the growing trend of single mothers celebrating themselves on Father’s Day, saying the holiday should remain focused on fathers.
According to Burale, motherhood cannot substitute for fatherhood even where single mothers take on both roles.
Speaking during a live interview on a local TV station on the night of Friday, June 13, 2025, Burale argued that while single mothers often shoulder both caregiving and financial responsibilities, attempting to fulfil both parental roles diminishes the unique paternal contributions and influence fathers bring to their children.
He reiterated that mothers cannot assume a father’s role and emphasised that each gender brings its own irreplaceable impact.
“Any woman who says, ‘Happy Father’s Day to us mothers who have been fathers,’ that is the biggest lie from the pits of hell!!! You are not a father,” Burale stated.
The life coach emphasised that single mothers, no matter how well-intentioned, cannot fully replace a father’s presence, something that comes from distinct male figures like brothers, fathers, or other men in a child’s life.
He further stated that while mothers and fathers each have irreplaceable roles, certain influences can only be imparted by a man to a daughter or a son, and likewise, there are things only a woman can do.
“Some men have delicate positions, but it does not mean there is no father figure around you. There is a brother, a father, and, by the way, you are a mother, and you cannot be a father, and there are some things only a man can input on a daughter or a son, and there are some things only a woman can do that, so those women who are saying happy Father’s Day to us, you are not,” he explained.
Father’s Day
This year’s Father’s Day will be celebrated on Sunday, June 15, 2025, following the global tradition of observing it on the third Sunday of June.
In Kenya, Father’s Day has been embraced as a meaningful day to acknowledge the vital role of fathers and father figures in families and communities.
While not a public holiday in Kenya, Father’s Day is a cherished occasion to honour and appreciate fathers and father figures for their love, support, and sacrifices. Celebrations often involve spending quality time with family, sharing meals, giving gifts, or simply expressing gratitude through heartfelt messages.
The tradition of Father’s Day dates back to 1910 in Spokane, Washington, when Sonora Smart Dodd initiated the celebration to honour her single father, who raised six children. The idea gradually gained popularity, and in 1972, it was officially recognised in the United States
