When Joy Turns Silent: Postpartum Depression and the Crisis We Don’t Talk About in Kenya

On the day Wanjiku* gave birth at a public hospital in Nairobi, relatives ululated in the maternity ward. Her mother brought uji and soup. Her WhatsApp filled with messages: “Congratulations, Mama!”

Three weeks later, she sat awake at 3 a.m., staring at her newborn and feeling nothing but fear.

“I kept asking myself, why don’t I feel happy? What is wrong with me?” she whispered.

Nothing was wrong with her. She was experiencing postpartum depression — a condition affecting far more Kenyan mothers than most of us realise.

More Than Just “Baby Blues”

In Kenya, childbirth is a moment of joy, but the weeks that follow can be heavy with emotional struggle. Mental health professionals say postpartum depression in this country is a serious public health concern.

Studies across Kenya show varied but consistently high prevalence:

In a large hospital study at Kenyatta National Hospital, nearly 29% of new mothers screened positive for postpartum depression, with rates higher among women who had experienced stillbirths.
A recent cross-sectional study in Eldoret found about 17.5% of mothers screened positive for postpartum depression within 6–14 weeks after delivery.
Research among adolescent mothers in Nairobi reported up to 24.9% experiencing depressive symptoms post-delivery.

Even outside clinical settings, other Nairobi-based research has estimated postpartum depression rates around 13% in low-income urban settlements.

These are not isolated cases — they reveal that thousands of Kenyan mothers may struggle with their mental health after childbirth.

When Depression Turns Dangerous

According to the World Health Organization and Kenyan health authorities, Kenya’s maternal mortality ratio remains high at about 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, translating to around 5,000–6,000 preventable maternal deaths annually. This includes deaths from physical and mental health causes.

While physical causes such as postpartum hemorrhage are often highlighted, mental health remains under-recognized in official data — even though severe depression and psychosis can lead to suicide or harm to oneself or one’s child.

Clinical psychologist Peter Mwangi explains:

“Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency. A mother may lose touch with reality. She may believe the baby is in danger from imagined threats or hear commanding voices. Immediate medical intervention is critical.”

Studies in other low- and middle-income contexts suggest that maternal suicide constitutes a significant portion of maternal deaths during the perinatal period — including the postpartum months.

The Kenyan Pressures Mothers Carry

For many women in Kenya, the postpartum period comes with intense pressures on multiple fronts:

Little maternity protection in informal jobs
Financial strain as household bills mount
Lack of partner or family emotional support
Persistent stigma around mental health
Expectations to “be thankful” and hide distress

These social and economic factors compound the risk of depression, especially for younger mothers and those living in informal settlements.

Dr. Miriam Otieno, a maternal mental health specialist, says:

“In our communities, mothering is supposed to be pure joy. But many women are dealing with deep emotional fatigue and stress that go unspoken and untreated.”

The Warning Signs Families Must Notice

Loved ones are often the first line of defense. Warning signs that require urgent attention include:

Talking about feeling trapped or worthless
Expressing hopelessness about the future
Severe mood swings or emotional withdrawal
Paranoia or confusion
Statements like, “My baby would be better off without me”

If a mother is experiencing hallucinations, hearing voices, or shows any intent to harm herself or her child, this is a medical emergency requiring immediate care.

Treatment Is Possible — And Effective

The most powerful truth is this: postpartum depression is treatable.

Options in Kenya include:

Counselling through public hospitals or private practices
Peer support groups in community and church settings
Medication where appropriate and monitored by a clinician
Referral for psychiatric care in severe cases

Community health volunteers (CHVs) are increasingly being trained to screen for signs of postpartum depression during home visits — a key step toward early intervention.

Dr. Otieno underscores:

“We must treat maternal mental health with the same urgency as physical complications after childbirth.”

Changing the Conversation

We celebrate newborns with flowers, photos, and meals. But we rarely ask the mother how she is coping beyond the surface.

Perhaps the question needs to change.

Instead of “How is the baby?” we must ask, “How are you — really?”

Because postpartum depression doesn’t make someone a bad mother — it means she needs support.

And in a country that thrives on ubuntu and community, no mother should suffer in silence.

Name changed to protect identity.