As the world marked Mother’s Day with messages of love and gratitude, the National Police Service (NPS) found itself on the receiving end of public outrage after its celebratory post was met with accusations of hypocrisy, with Kenyans questioning its silence on the pain of mothers whose sons allegedly passed away in the hands of police officers.
The backlash erupted shortly after NPS shared a tribute to mothers on its official social media pages, prompting Kenyans online to remind the service of ongoing cases of police brutality and lives lost due to police actions.
Many users called out the irony of the post, citing the grief of countless mothers still seeking justice for their slain children, with some demanding accountability instead of hollow messages.
The post, captioned, "Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mothers who make a difference in the lives of their children, families, and communities. Your selflessness, kindness, and dedication are truly inspiring. Women are indeed the bedrock of society and deserve every accolade for their strength of conviction and dedication in nurturing future leaders."
Adding, "To all the incredible mothers who toil selflessly for the well-being of their loved ones, your love and support mean the world to us," was shared across NPS platforms to mark the occasion.
At the time of publishing, the post had garnered over 67,000 views, with more than 200 replies and retweets—most of which sharply criticised the service. Many users accused the police of hypocrisy, citing unresolved cases involving mothers who lost sons to alleged police executions.
One of the social media users, while alleging that over 60 Kenyan youth lost their lives at the hands of the officers under the command of the NPS, pointed out that the mothers of the slain would not appreciate the message.
"I do not think the mothers of the more than 60 youth you guys 'took out' will appreciate this message. Very baseless," he shared.
''Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers who have lost their kids at the hands of our police combating for this country,'' another added.
Other users also dived into the disappearance of Nakuru-based fisherman Brian Odhiambo, who allegedly went missing on January 18, in the hands of Kenya Wildlife Service officers, demanding that the NPS hand over his body to his mother for closure.
Further, some users posted in the replies section photos and videos of the dejected fisherman's mother while on various public appearances demanding justice.
''Brian Odhiambo's mom is also a mother. Where is her son? Why did you abduct her son? Where did you take him? Give back the body to the mother," another social media user stated.
Other netizens shared photos from past protests, highlighting instances where police officers were seen hounding women, further fuelling the public backlash.
Additionally, others used artificial intelligence (AI)-generated photos of police officers, depicting them hounding women.
Use of IG Kanja
The administrators of the NPS social media page also came under criticism for using the image of Inspector General Douglas Kanja on the Mother's Day graphic, with users questioning why the service could not feature a female officer instead.
Mother's Day is celebrated to honour and appreciate mothers and maternal figures for their love, sacrifices, and contributions to their families and society. It is a day to recognise the vital role mothers play in nurturing and shaping individuals and communities.
The modern observance originated in the US, largely due to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, who organised the first official Mother's Day in 1908 to commemorate her own mother and all mothers. It became a national holiday in the US in 1914 and has since spread worldwide, with different countries marking it on various dates.
Happy Mother's Day from Kenyans.co.ke
