Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has rolled out a sanitary pads distribution drive aimed at reducing school absenteeism among girls during menstruation.
Through the county department of gender and youth, 3,173 girls from 20 schools across the county have received sanitary towels.
County government data shows nearly three in every 10 girls miss school each month because of menstruation, a challenge that continues to undermine education and academic performance.
The programme also included mentorship sessions to build confidence, resilience and awareness among school-going girls.
Waiguru said the initiative is part of the county’s broader girl-child empowerment agenda, noting that the lack of access to sanitary products forces many girls to stay away from school during their menstrual cycle.
Gender and youth chief officer Sheila Mwangi said the programme was designed to ensure no girl is left behind because of her menstrual cycle. She spoke at Kinyaga Secondary School.
She said many girls suffer in silence as some parents prioritise basic household needs over sanitary products due to economic hardship.
“The governor is deeply committed to this programme. Many girls were suffering and in some homes, sanitary pads were a last priority. This support ensures girls stay in school and learn without distraction,” Mwangi said.
The initiative has been praised as a timely intervention to boost girls’ retention in school.
Kinyaga Secondary School principal Naomi Kariuki said the donation would help keep girls in school at a time when many parents face economic strain.
“With the current hardships, many parents are struggling. This support will ensure girls remain in school, learning continues smoothly and performance improves,” she said.
Kinyaga Primary School headteacher Willy Gathumbi said the intervention had come at a critical time for many families.
“Farming has not yielded much this season, causing economic setbacks. This support will help children stay in school and learn without interruption,” he said.
Kutus Comprehensive Primary School headteacher Patrick Njue described the donation as a gesture that went beyond health support.
“The governor has supported girls’ health and welfare in school. The girls are now more comfortable knowing they are supported,” he said.
The county government said complementary initiatives targeting boy are also planned to promote inclusive development and balanced support for learners.
The county has set aside Sh30 million in the current financial year to support young people, women, persons living with disabilities and vulnerable families.
The national government launched the sanitary towel programme in 2011 under the Ministry of Education to provide free pads to girls in public schools and curb absenteeism and dropouts.
Between 2011-12 and 2021-22, the programme cost about Sh3.5 billion and reached more than 12 million girls.
However, the initiative has been inconsistent in many counties, exposing girls to exploitation by sexual predators and increasing risks of teenage pregnancy, poverty and school dropout.
Instant Analysis
The national government started the sanitary towel initiative in 2011 under the Ministry of Education, aimed at providing free sanitary towels to girls in public schools to reduce absenteeism and dropout rates linked to lack of menstrual products. But the programme has been inconsistent in many counties exposing girls to sex pests who prey on them and expose them to teenage motherhood, permanently altering their lives and thrusting them more into poverty.
Comments 0
Sign in to join the conversation
Sign In Create AccountNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!