Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary (CS) Hanna Wendot Cheptumo joined residents of West Pokot to mark World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
She called for an end to period stigma and emphasised the importance of keeping girls in school.
This year’s theme, “Together for a Period Friendly World”, resonates deeply in West Pokot — a region where cultural taboos and poverty have historically limited access to menstrual health resources.
The event marked a turning point in public dialogue on the subject.
Speaking during the event held at Nasokol Girls High School, CS Cheptumo emphasised the urgent need to break taboos around menstruation and eliminate period poverty, especially in marginalized regions.
“Menstrual hygiene is not a luxury; it is a right. Our girls and women deserve to live in dignity, free from shame, stigma, and discrimination,” she stated.
CS Cheptumo said that menstruation is a natural biological process that must be normalised and celebrated, not shamed.
“Menstruation is not shameful. It is a biological process and something that should be embraced with dignity. Our girls deserve to stay in school, to be safe, and to grow into empowered women,” she said.
She reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting menstrual health through increased access to sanitary products, public education, and community engagement.
“We want to create a society where menstruation is not a barrier to education or personal growth. Our girls deserve to stay in school and pursue their dreams without interruption,” Cheptumo said.
Cheptumo went further to condemn the practice of Female Genital Mutilation, saying it remains a grave violation of girls’ rights and a barrier to their health, self-worth, and well-being.
“FGM is a bad culture that destroys the dignity of our girls. It affects their ability to enjoy life, their physical well-being, and even their menstrual cycle. We must all speak out and act to end this harmful tradition,” she emphasised.
The CS highlighted the government’s efforts to empower young girls with knowledge and confidence to manage their periods and to communicate their needs openly.
“We have empowered our girls to be confident enough to speak to their parents, teachers, and community leaders about what they go through during menstruation. They now understand that asking for support is not weakness—it’s their right,” she added.
Principal Secretary (PS) for Gender and Affirmative Action, Ms. Ann Wang’ombe, echoed the CS’s sentiments and confirmed that the government has a standing policy to ensure period products reach schoolgirls every year.
“The government has a menstrual health policy in place that allocates funds every financial year for the purchase and distribution of sanitary pads. Last financial year, we successfully distributed sanitary pads to 2.4 million girls across the country,” said PS.
She, however, acknowledged that the implementation process has faced logistical challenges.
“One of the key challenges we face is access to remote areas—some regions lack proper roads and transport facilities. But we have engaged the national government to support us in distribution so that no school is left behind,” she explained.
During the event, sanitary pads and menstrual health kits were distributed to hundreds of schoolgirls. Community sensitisation sessions and educational forums were also held to promote healthy practices and debunk menstrual myths.
By Agneta Chebet and Parklea Ivor
