Lilian Ng’ang’a wants maternity leave extended to 6 months

Kenyan author and former Machakos County First Lady, Lilian Ng’ang’a, has called for maternity leave to be extended from three months to six months. In a video shared on her Instagram page on Thursday, March 12, 2026, Ng’ang’a highlighted the challenges that new mothers face under the current law.

She recounted seeing a young mother with her baby strapped to her back heading out to find casual work, illustrating how short the current leave period is.

She noted that mothers who give birth via cesarean section, for example, need at least eight weeks to recover physically, plus extra time to regain energy and adjust before returning to work. Three months, Ng’ang’a argued, is barely enough time to heal, bond with a newborn, and find some sleep along the way.

Ng’ang’a added that if she were in Parliament, this is a bill she would propose to amend.

“Juzi, I’m out on my morning run. I saw a young lady with a child on her back anaenda kutafuta kibarua. You know, in Kenya, we have three months for maternity, and honestly, that is such a short time for a new mom to be apart from her baby. Say, for example, you give birth via CS, you need about 8 weeks to feel better and then another 4 weeks to go back to work. Not fully healed because there is that pain you feel down the line, but a bit better,” Lilian Ng’ang’a stated.

Adding;

“If I were in parliament, this is a bill I would propose we amend. I know some employers have given their employees more than three months. And nowadays we also have remote working, hybrid.”

Currently, Kenyan law provides three months of fully paid maternity leave, with job protection during the period. Some employers go beyond the statutory requirement, offering longer leave or flexible arrangements such as remote or hybrid work to support new mothers.

Ng’ang’a’s call aligns with international health recommendations. The World Health Organisation advises exclusive breastfeeding for six months, underscoring the benefits of longer maternity leave for both mother and child. She said extending leave to six months would allow mothers more time to recover, bond with their babies, and adjust to the demands of parenthood while perhaps finally mastering the skill of holding a baby, a cup of coffee, and a phone all at once.

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