Motherhood vs feminism: The battle few want to talk about

Motherhood vs feminism: The battle few want to talk about (Photo: iStock)

I remember at the height of the 2013 Supreme Court hearing of Raila Odinga's election petition against the election of Uhuru Kenyatta as president, word leaked that Justice Njoki Ndung'u was pregnant. The remarks from men were hilarious, that even a lioness must get pregnant at some point.

It reminded me of the Wangu wa Makeri legend among the Kikuyu, when they were led by a high-handed woman. Men decided to hold a meeting and agreed that the best way to beat the toxic matriarchy they were suffering from was to impregnate all the women. It seems women have internalized this story, hence their anxiety and trepidation with motherhood.