Kibera, Nairobi – At a sun-soaked church compound in Kibera, the chants were clear and confident. “My period, my pride,” girls declared, as they rallied for something many take for granted clean, safe access to menstrual products and the dignity that comes with it.
Polycom Girls, a grassroots organisation working in one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, led the charge on International Menstrual Hygiene Day. The call was simple but urgent: the Kenyan government must commit long-term funding for menstrual products in public schools.
“This is not just about hygiene. It’s about dignity, access to education, and challenging taboos that hold girls back,” said Wendy Aura, Programmes Manager at Polycom Girls, during Thursday’s event at the AIC Church Grounds.
Breaking the Silence in Public
This year’s global theme Together for a Period Friendly World was more than a slogan in Kibera. It became a rallying cry.
Dozens of girls, teachers, male allies, and community leaders gathered for an afternoon of dialogue, art, music, and storytelling. The message: menstrual health is not just a women’s issue it’s a societal one.
According to data shared at the event, only two in five schools globally provide menstrual health education, while one in three lacks proper disposal bins for sanitary waste. In Sub-Saharan Africa, up to 31 percent of schoolgirls miss classes due to menstruation, according to WHO and UNICEF.
“We can’t talk about equal education when girls are staying home because they don’t have pads,” said Patricia Makokha, a teacher at Ayany Primary School. “The government must do more, especially for girls with disabilities who face additional barriers.”
Voices from All Corners
In a powerful moment, adolescent girls took the microphone to share personal stories of managing periods in silence. Many described using rags, staying home from school, or facing teasing from classmates.
Brenda Kalekye, a board member at Polycom Girls, encouraged girls to take pride in their bodies. “Gone are the days we buy pads in shame. It’s time we said it out loud My period, my pride,” she said, drawing applause from the crowd.
Male champions like mental health advocate Kefa Dickson also stood in solidarity. “We must raise boys who are allies, not bystanders. Menstrual health affects us all,” he said.
Kimani Mwangi, another advocate, agreed: “If boys are taught early that menstruation is normal, we’ll have fewer bullies and more supporters.”
Lydia Achieng, a youth advisor to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), praised Polycom’s locally-made “G-Pende” sanitary pads and its efforts to bring health education to hard-to-reach communities. “Polycom’s girl-led approach is shifting power to the very people who live this reality,” she said.
From Comics to Policy
The event also celebrated the success of Siri Ya Mwezi, a comic book launched in collaboration with Womankind Worldwide. It uses humour and relatable characters to teach menstrual hygiene in schools.
Polycom’s “Talking Boxes” anonymous drop-in letters where girls voice their fears and questions were also on display. Many entries focused on shame, misinformation, and limited access to products.
These tools have attracted the attention of lawmakers, with several female MPs pledging support for policy reforms around menstrual health.
A Human Rights Issue
As the drums faded and girls danced in bright red T-shirts bearing the day’s slogan, the message remained: menstruation should never be a barrier to education or dignity.
“We’re not asking for charity,” said Aura. “We’re asking for recognition that this is a basic human right. Creating a period-friendly world means leaving no one behind regardless of age, gender, or ability.”
The challenge now is translating chants into policy. For Kenya’s girls, the need is clear. What they await is action.
