by Cindy Maloba
I opened my eyes at exactly 1:47 p.m. to the soft sounds of beeping machines, low voices, and dim lights. A gentle tap on my palm and a soft voice said, “Cindy, you’re in recovery now. The surgery went well.” That’s when it hit me – I had just delivered a baby.
It was Friday, November 15th, 2024. At 5:30 p.m., my school timetable read: INS-412X – Development of Modern Africa & Christian Values. As a Daystar University student, I was supposed to attend that class and sit for a CAT. Yes – on the same day I had a caesarian section. Daystar is strict about class attendance, and missing the CAT we were to have that night, wasn’t an option I could easily take.
You can be a good mother and still follow your dreams.
You totally can, if you so desire.
_ Serena Williams
According to the 2024 Kenya Data and Health Survey, 1 in every 5 girls aged 15–19 is either pregnant or already a mother. A 2005 report by Elimu Yetu Foundation confirmed that Kenya’s education policies do not formally discriminate against girls or women (Juma, 2024).
Being an undergraduate student mom comes with unique challenges. We don’t just attend classes and write assignments—we also raise children. From sitting for CATS, doing group work, and participating in school activities to managing diapers and sleepless nights—it’s a heavy load. Balancing both can be exhausting, and sometimes, you may even forget that motherhood is a blessing.
The emotional pressure is real too. Many student moms struggle with guilt, anxiety, and fear of judgment. Society often pressures us to focus on school, leaving little room for grace or empathy. A 2022 report by the East African Nature and Science Organization pointed out issues like missed CATs, poor group participation, skipped classes due to clinic visits or lack of childcare, and overall emotional strain as major reasons why young student mothers struggle in school (Mwangi John Munyua, 2022).
On that evening of November 15th 2024, I missed my class, plus the consecutive Monday. As a mother who had just undergone an emergency Cs, I needed hospital care for 4 days and partial bed rest for utmost 2 weeks as I recover. As all these things happen, classes continue and we are preparing for final exams. There was no way I was going to allow myself to miss exams and re-do these units. 10 days later, my nanny took her Christmas off and the nightmare begun. Luckily for me, I am an evening student. I chose to go to the village and seek help from my mama, expressing milk, letting her take care of my 2 week old baby, as I sat for exams in the evening.
Kenyan universities like Daystar offer blended learning – combining online and face-to-face learning. This system can be a great help for student moms, but it needs more support and clear policies. Many young mothers might not have parenting experience, but they are doing their best. Many of them manage to study and raise children at the same time – and that’s something to be celebrated.
In the end, should motherhood be seen as a curse? Absolutely not. It’s a challenge, yes – but not a burden. With the right support, flexible learning options, and understanding systems, student mothers can thrive. We are not asking for special treatment – just a fair chance to chase our dreams, like everyone else.
To every student mom out there: keep going. You are living proof that it’s possible to hold a baby in one hand and a degree in the other.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/student-moms-raising-children-while-earning-degree-cindy-maloba-uwq1f/?trackingId=E6G%2BWzzoQ4qz3p0oyK4Lgw%3D%3D
References
(n.d.).
Juma, D. C. (2024). Motherhood in Institutions of Higher Learning: The Case of Public . Mombasa.
Mwangi John Munyua, D. W. (2022). Influence of Student Motherhood on Academic Performance in Public. East African Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 114.