Nakuru doctor wants paternity leave extended to three months

A Nakuru doctor has filed a petition in court seeking to have the period of paternity leave extended from the current two weeks to 90 days.

According to court documents seen by Citizen Digital,  Dr Magare Gikenyi, in his petition, argued that it was discriminatory to give men fewer leave days after childbirth adding that science has shown that men play an equally important role in the first three months of a child’s life.

Gikenyi was however quick to point out that the petition was not aimed at reducing the number of days new mothers get for maternity leave, but was rather aimed at achieving equality in the workplace.

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His petition elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans with some arguing that the current two weeks is enough as men need to go out and fend for their families while others chose to make light of the matter.

Maternity leave is to help the mother heal and breastfeed the child. What’s the importance of paternity? If need be let’s debate ways to enable exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months not nonsense of not laziness of paternity.

— Wuod Ramula 🇰🇪 (@WuodRamula) January 4, 2022

Those with 10 wifes we have great holidays coming

— Johnson nyanamba onyancha🇰🇪 (@Johnsonnyanamba) January 4, 2022

Justice Jacob Rugeri, who received the petition, did not give any interim orders and instead advised the Ministry of Labour and the Attorney General who are the respondents to file their responses within the next 21 days.