Lack of Sanitary Pads Exposes Schoolgirls To Exploitation, Stakeholders Warn

By Elijah Cherutich

Stakeholders in Nakuru have raised concern over rising cases of transactional sex involving schoolgirls who lack access to sanitary pads, warning that poverty is exposing them to exploitation and disrupting their education.

The concerns were raised at Soar Kenya Academy in Nakuru Town West during the distribution of sanitary pads and undergarments to more than 300 girls from 11 schools.

The event comes amid ongoing public debate over the alleged actions of a Russian national accused of secretly luring and recording several women in Kenya. Speakers said such incidents highlight the need to protect vulnerable girls from exploitation.

Sally Kamau, Project Manager for FREEDOM FOR GIRLS at Africa HEART organisation, said many girls in areas where the group operates struggle to stay in school due to lack of basic menstrual hygiene products.

She said testimonies from some girls indicate they trade off their bodies for sanitary pads, compromising their wellbeing and affecting their education.

“If you host a girls and she opens up, she will say it was a mistake because i needed a pad, and thus our girls are misused because of the way the community are treating them, what we can do to eradicate this menace is to educate our communities and our girls,” she said.

Kamau said up to 60 per cent of the girls are unable to access sanitary pads, placing them in difficult situations.

James Yegon, director of Soar Kenya Academy, said the school has partnered with several organisations to support more than 2,000 girls across Nakuru County with menstrual hygiene packages designed to last the entire year.

He said the intervention has brought stability for many girls and improved their academic performance.

“Girls miss upto 4 days a month on average because of this biological cycle and therefore it calls for our concerted efforts as stakeholders and partners to support such noble causes so that we can free our girls to concentrate on the education,” he said.

Margaret Wagereka, a teacher at Kelelewet Secondary School, which is among the beneficiary institutions, said the support has restored the girls’ confidence and self-esteem.

She said girls remain a vulnerable group that needs support from both the community and government to ensure they do not become victims of transactional sex.