PROMOTING MENSTRUAL HYGIENE
The Kenyan government spends close to KES 1 billion annually on sanitary towels for school-going girls, the Ministry for Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage has revealed.
During the Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations at Nasokol Girls High School in West Pokot County, Cabinet Secretary Gender, Culture and Heritage Hannah Wendot emphasized the importance of menstrual health education and access to sanitary products terming it a matter of dignity and equality.
Wendot said that the government is committed to ensuring girls do not miss school during their menstrual cycles due to lack of sanitary products.
Her sentiments were echoed by Principal Secretary for Gender, Ann Wang’ombe, who said the government is channelling significant resources into menstrual hygiene management.
West Pokot County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Lucky Litole, acknowledged that the county government has also allocated resources to support menstrual hygiene.
In 2024, 2.4 million girls in Kenya received free sanitary pads.
Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual awareness day marked on May 28 annually, to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management at a global level. This year, the day was celebrated under the theme “Together for a period-friendly world.”