There are significant barriers to properly managing menstruation in Kenya, especially in low-income, remote areas. These obstacles include unaffordable sanitary products, menstrual stigma and poor sanitation, resulting in Kenyan teens missing school during their periods. School absenteeism puts these youth at risk of dropping out and having unexpected pregnancies. 

Kenya began removing taxes on menstrual products in 2004. In 2010 there was an additional government commitment to provide free sanitary pads in public schools. And by 2016 it had removed VAT on imported menstrual products as well as on the raw materials for their production. In 2017 there was an amendment to the Education Act to require distribution of sanitary pads at schools; and a reported $3m set aside in the national budget to fund distribution of free sanitary pads.The government had  planned to supply 140 million pads to schools countrywide. However, unreliable distributors and theft meant only a portion of the pads from the government distribution project made it to schools.

However these legislative policies are insufficient. Even untaxed, pads and tampons remain unaffordable for many Kenyans. A 2016 Menstrual Hygiene Day report states that roughly 65% of Kenyan females cannot afford sanitary pads. In rural Western Kenya, two-thirds of girls report exchanging sex for period products. Furthermore, sanitation continues as an issue that is inadequately addressed, making menstrual hygiene difficult. Kenya’s Ministry of Health reports that most school bathrooms and latrines still lack running water.

We are calling for :-

1. Members of the National Assembly to review upwards the budget allocation for sanitary towels in ensuring we keep our girls in school and curb some of the issues women and girls are experiencing.   
2. Provision of free sanitary towels by the State Department for Gender to all girls at puberty who are enrolled in both public and private schools.                                                                             
3. Comprehensive menstrual health education in schools by the Ministry of Education                                                                       
4. Full implementation of the existing Menstrual health Management Policy and Strategy and establishment of digital pad dispensers in schools, hospitals and public spaces by the Ministry of Public Service and Gender.