MARALAL, SAMBURU COUNTY — As the world marked International Health Day, new research has laid bare a quiet but devastating crisis: thousands of women and girls across Kenya are going without sanitary products, exposing them to risks of shame, school absenteeism — and in many cases — sexual exploitation.
The report, titled “Echoing Voices from the Grassroots on Dignified Period for All”, was compiled by women’s rights organisation Nguvu Collective, with the support of local partners and the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (Kewopa). The five-month study, which ran from October 2024 to February 2025, captured the experiences of over 9,500 women and girls, half of whom live in rural communities.
The findings are stark:
- Nearly 50% reported that menstrual hygiene products were either unavailable or only sold in very few shops.
- One in three said they had either faced or been at risk of sexual abuse due to lack of access to pads or sanitary towels.
- Among those who rely on the government’s Sanitary Towels Programme, 41% said the supply was insufficient, while 35% reported receiving no pads at all.
“Every voice in this report is a cry for dignity,” said Frida Karani, a lead researcher on the study. “This is about more than health. It’s about justice, equity and safety for women and girls.”
Nguvu Collective CEO Preethi Herman urged Parliament to urgently act on the findings by passing the Provision of Sanitary Towels Bill, 2024, a measure backed by nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba.
“This bill is not just a legal fix,” Herman said. “It is a lifeline — one that can safeguard reproductive health, reduce exploitation and restore dignity to millions.”
The call to action was echoed by Kewopa Chairperson and Kajiado MP Leah Sankaire, who linked the findings to past government failings.
“In 2022, the Auditor General raised the alarm over flaws in the government’s pad distribution,” Sankaire said. “This report confirms that girls are still being failed. That must end.”
The Nguvu Collective plans to present its findings to key government bodies, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Gender, and Senator Orwoba. The group is calling for free and sufficient sanitary supplies in all public institutions — from schools to prisons.
In the meantime, local organisations such as Padmad Kenya have stepped in, donating reusable pads to schoolgirls in areas like Samburu County. But campaigners warn that such acts of generosity, while vital, cannot replace comprehensive national policy.
“Menstrual health is not a luxury,” Herman added. “It’s a right — and we must treat it as such.”
