Nairobi MCAs have passed a motion compelling the executive to ensure public establishments in the county such as hotels and other businesses have designated nursing or breastfeeding area or they will be denied licence renewal.
This will add a new responsibility to real estate developers or those leasing space in the push to make breastfeeding mothers more comfortable.
A government human resource policy unveiled in 2016 gave public institutions three years to set up day-care facilities and provide breastfeeding employees with well-equipped lactating rooms.
Public facilities in Nairobi risk losing their licences if they do not set up designated nursing or breastfeeding centres if a motion by Nairobi County Assembly MCAs is adopted by the executive.
On Tuesday, the ward representatives passed a motion compelling the executive to ensure public establishments in the county such as hotels and other businesses have designated nursing or breastfeeding area or they will be denied licence renewal.
This will add a new responsibility to real estate developers or those leasing space in the push to make breastfeeding mothers more comfortable.
The MCAs said the motion was a reaction to recent occurrences where lactating mothers have been denied the privilege of nursing their infants in public or semi-public establishments due to lack of designated zones.
“This assembly resolves that the County Executive move with speed to ensure all licensed County public establishment and County Public service delivery points designate conducive nursing/breastfeeding areas with its enabling policy as a requirement and condition for licence renewal by the County Government of Nairobi City,” the motion tabled by nominated MCA Doris Kanario says.
She argued that breastfeeding mothers often feel ashamed or threatened of feeding their babies in public due to opposition from other people, negative comments, discomfort and harassment.
The representative called for the challenges to be immediately addressed, saying breastfeeding offers a bonding and attachment between mother and baby.
A government human resource policy unveiled in 2016 gave public institutions three years to set up day-care facilities and provide breastfeeding employees with well-equipped lactating rooms.
"Nairobi should follow the examples of other cities which have this rule. Everyone in this house was breastfed at a young age so they know that this motion is very crucial and I would like to urge members to adopt this motion to enable development,” said MCA Leah Naikane.
A National Assembly Bill that sought to compel employers to set aside special breastfeeding areas for employees and visitors with children was not adopted.
PAYE Tax Calculator
Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.
