Over 41,000 school going girls in Murang’a County have received sanitary towels in a move aimed at bringing an end shame and stigma associated with menstruation and also promote menstrual hygiene.
The provision of the vital commodity comes a day after commemoration of the global Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28 where the government through the Ministry of Health reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to enhance menstrual health and hygiene to all girls and women in the country.
While launching the drive to issue sanitary towels to all grade 5, 6 and JSS girls students at Gacharage grounds in Kigumo sub county, Murang’a County Women Representative Betty Maina noted that it is imperative to support the girls by ending period shame and stigma so as to keep them in school.
She noted that making the sanitary towels accessible will not only be hygienic but it will also improve their academic performance in school as many girls shun going to school out of shame when their parents and guardians cannot not afford to buy them the towels.
“We are committed to keep our girls in school throughout their education calendar because majority of them miss school for a few days every month and that impacts negatively on their education,” she observed.
“This is a programme we intend to continuously carry out so in the next financial year we will add more sanitary towels to the girls because we must end period poverty,” she added.
The legislator divulged that a total of 41,357 girls from 511 public schools in the county will each receive 8 packets of the sanitary towels to help them manage their menstrual periods for the remaining period they will be in school this year.
At the same time, Maina made a passionate appeal to various leaders and the public to unite in the fight against sexual and gender based violence that is widespread in the county.
She termed as unfortunate that the county is still registering a high number of reported cases of sexual and gender based violence against women and girls.
“Sexual and domestic violence is on rise here in Murang’a where our women and girls continue to fall victims. I appeal to all of you to stop these vices that violate the rights of our women and girls that negates their economic and social development,” she averred.
“Most recently, through a despicable act we lost a young girl who was sexually assaulted and later dragged on the tarmac from Kenol town to Kabati shopping centre two months ago yet the perpetrators of the heinous act are still at large,” she said.
Moreover, she called on Boda boda riders to join in the fight against the menace by rescuing and reporting any incidents they may witness of girls or women in distress a move that will go a long way in rescuing a sister, a child, or a mother from physical, sexual or psychological violence.
A demographic and Health survey 2022 report released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicated that 54 percent of women aged 15 to 49 in Murang’a have experienced sexual violence.
Additionally, the survey placed women from the County who experienced sexual violence at 14 percent as compared to the countrywide statistics of 7 percent.
Also, 22 percent of women in Murang’a experienced physical violence a number that was higher compared to a national wide figure of 16 percent.
The leaders who graced the economic empowerment project forum Maina had sponsored through the NG-AAF kitty included the Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu, the area Kigumo MP Joseph Munyoro and a host of MCAs from the region and beyond.
Notably 15 primary schools in Kinyona ward received a water tank each while 4 Women self-help groups received NGAAF cheques worth Sh150,000 each.
The farmers present received 5,000 hass avocado seedlings while all the 950 elders present took home blankets and food essentials.
By Florence Kinyua
