Menstrual Poverty: 'I Stay Away From School Because I Don'T Want The Embarrassment'
img_tag = ("Thousands of Kenyan schoolgirls are missing up to a week of classes every month, not because they're sick or their families can't afford fees, but because they don't have access to sanitary pads during their periods.
Education experts across the country are now sounding the alarm about a crisis that's quietly destroying the futures of our daughters. Girls from primary school to secondary school are staying home during menstruation, often using unsafe alternatives like pieces of cloth, newspapers, or nothing at all. The shame and fear of leaking through makeshift protection is forcing them to choose between their dignity and their education.
This isn't just a problem for families in remote villages – it's happening right here in Nairobi estates, in county schools across Central Kenya, and even in institutions where parents scrape together matatu fare every morning to give their children a better life. When a family is choosing between buying unga and sanitary pads, the pads lose every time. A packet that costs between Sh100-200 might not seem like much, but for parents earning Sh300 a day or depending on irregular M-Pesa transfers from relatives, it's a luxury they can't afford.
The ripple effects go far beyond missed classes. Girls who consistently fall behind because of menstrual poverty often drop out entirely, making them vulnerable to early marriage and teenage pregnancy. In counties like Turkana, Samburu, and parts of Coast region, this cycle is pushing entire communities deeper into poverty. When girls can't complete their education, they can't break the chains that keep their families struggling.
Some schools have tried to help by keeping emergency supplies, and the government has promised free sanitary pads in schools, but the implementation remains patchy. Teachers report that even when supplies arrive, they're often insufficient or irregular, leaving gaps that force girls back into the same impossible choices.
The real tragedy is that this is completely preventable. Countries that have tackled menstrual poverty head-on have seen dramatic improvements in girls' education and long-term economic outcomes. Kenya has the resources and know-how to solve this, but it requires treating periods as a basic health need, not a women's issue that can wait. How many brilliant minds are we losing every month because we've normalized the idea that girls should suffer in silence?