Nana Owiti Celebrates Unveiling of Maternity Police Uniforms

TV host and Maternal Health Ambassador Nana Owiti has celebrated the unveiling of maternity uniforms for pregnant police officers by President William Ruto, describing the moment as healing.

In a social media video, Nana shared how the new initiative resonated with her own family’s story and the struggles her mother faced as a police officer.

Nana recounted her mother’s journey, who had her while still in high school, Form Two.

“Motherhood did not stop her from chasing her dreams. She had to return to school. I didn’t get to breastfeed actually because she had to get back to class and continue building the life she envisioned. I quickly became what I jokingly call a community project because I was raised by the community, raised between my aunties, my uncles, my grandfathers, and amazing neighbours who would spare some unga for us.”

Years later, Nana’s mother joined the Kenya Police after training in Kiganjo and was posted in Embakasi. However, the challenges did not end there. “I was born in a time when women in the police service faced restrictions around motherhood. For years, I couldn’t openly be her daughter, and she couldn’t openly be my mom. I couldn’t walk around Embakasi just calling her mom. I called her by her maiden name, Wanza, for the longest time. People around us didn’t even know that the little girl visiting during school holidays was not her small sister, it was her daughter.“

Reflecting on the unveiling ceremony, Nana expressed how the moment moved her. “When I watched President Ruto unveil maternity clothing specifically designed for expectant police officers, my heart melted. To some, this may simply look like a new uniform. To me, it represents how far we have come. It represents a woman being allowed to serve her country and still be a mother without having to hide one part of herself.“

As a Maternal Health Ambassador, Nana celebrated the government’s efforts. “I hope we keep going beyond maternity clothes, towards workplaces, policies, and institutions that genuinely protect and support women through pregnancy and motherhood. My mother had to navigate a very different system. I did too. Today, seeing expectant police officers being recognised and accommodated feels like watching a small piece of history change. It heals something in me.”

She called on Kenyans to rally behind policymakers and change makers, adding, “This is a small step towards the right direction. But what more can we do around maternity and around protecting our women and our children? Every mother and every newborn deserves care, no matter where they live.”