Gloria Orwoba Defends Personal Image on Menstrual Health Billboards

A campaign billboard featuring former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has again come under discussion following a podcast episode hosted by Sarah Mwangi, in which Orwoba was questioned about the prominence of her image on advertisements linked to menstrual health advocacy.

The billboard, which appeared in Nairobi in 2023 and in later periods, shows Orwoba wearing a white T-shirt carrying period health messaging. It formed part of broader efforts to highlight menstrual stigma and access to sanitary products, challenges that advocates say continue to affect many girls and women in Kenya.

Podcast Questioning on Campaign Focus

During the podcast, Mwangi asked Orwoba why her image featured so prominently on what many viewers perceived as a sanitary pad–related advertisement, rather than the campaign focusing more directly on the issue or the beneficiaries of the initiative.

“Why did the billboard centre you, instead of centring the message or the girls affected?” Mwangi asked during the discussion.

Gloria Orwuoba // Instagram

Orwoba’s Explanation

In response to the podcast, Orwoba defended the decision, saying the billboards were intended to maintain visibility around menstrual health and provoke conversation in public spaces.

She said the approach had helped generate donations of sanitary products and ensured menstrual health remained part of the national discussion.

“The point was to keep the issue visible, even if it made people uncomfortable,” Orwoba said.

Background to the Campaign

Orwoba became nationally known after attending a Senate session with visible menstrual staining on her clothing, an act she said was deliberate and aimed at confronting period stigma and period poverty.

Following that incident, a series of awareness initiatives, including billboards, were rolled out to reinforce the message.

ALSO READ: Ex-Senator Gloria Orwoba's Controversial Take on Nairobi Dating Culture

Legislative Context

While serving in the Senate, Orwoba advanced the Provision of Sanitary Towels Bill, a proposal aimed at improving access to menstrual products for vulnerable groups, including schoolgirls.

She acknowledged during parliamentary debates that some of her advocacy methods attracted criticism, but said they helped keep menstrual health on the policy agenda.

Broader Policy Debate

Menstrual health remains an ongoing public policy issue in Kenya, with advocates citing data showing that lack of access to sanitary products contributes to missed school days and broader gender inequalities.

Supporters of Orwoba’s work say discussions such as the one on Mwangi’s podcast play an important role in interrogating advocacy strategies while keeping attention on menstrual health and the need for sustained policy action.