Kenyans join world to honour mothers

Today, the second Sunday of May, is the one Kenyans prefer to mark as Mother’s Day, but not all countries see it that way.

In the United Kingdom, for example, mothers have already been celebrated this year. The English marked their Mother’s Day on March 6; alongside Nigeria and a few other countries.

Argentines will celebrate their mothers on October 26; the French will do the same on May 29 while the South Sudanese will have Mother’s Day on July 4.

However, a compilation by more than 100 online researchers shows that Kenya is among 84 countries that mark Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May — the day most preferred globally.

Other countries whose citizens will mark Mother’s Day alongside Kenya include the United States of America, China, Japan, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

The varying dates are due to religious ceremonies, political processes among other reasons.

The day marked on the second week of May was started by an American woman who wanted to further her mother’s initiatives to organise women group meetings that were aimed at promoting friendship.

She held a memorial service for her mother on May 12, 1907 and the celebration quickly gained prominence in American states in subsequent years.

In 1914, it was declared a public holiday by President Woodrow Wilson.

In countries like Romania, Mother’s Day falls on the first Sunday of May and it is recognised as a public holiday.

South Sudan has a unique date for Mother’s Day following a directive from President Salva Kiir that the first Monday in July be set aside for celebrating mothers.

During last year’s Mother’s Day in Kenya, the social media was awash with messages to celebrate mothers.

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo and former presidential candidate Martha Karua were among prominent Kenyans who posted messages to celebrate the day.