• “Use of unhygienic materials can lead to leakage, infections, psychological discomfort which may culminate to poor performance and stigmatisation,” she said.
• The administrator said the onset of monthly menses prevents girls from participating and attending school because they feel ashamed or “unclean”.
More than 2,000 girls from vulnerable backgrounds in Katulani, Kitui, received three-month sanitary towels at a cost of Sh85,000 from well-wishers.
Katulani subcounty deputy county commissioner Shufaa Mwijuma led the exercise on Tuesday.
She said many girls in Kitui continue to miss classes due to absenteeism related to lack of sanitary towels to manage their menses.
“Access to sanitary towels is a big challenge for many girls from poor families in Kitui with UNESCO estimating that around half of all school-age girls do not have access to sanitary towels,” Mwijuma said.
The administrator said the onset of monthly menses prevents girls from participating and attending school because they feel ashamed or “unclean”.
“There are many instances where girls drop out of school once they start their periods. Staying at home and being out of education leaves them even more vulnerable to violations of their rights such as child marriage,” she said.
The administrator said menstruation is linked to a girls’ dignity and has a tremendous impact on their access to education and performance in school.
Mwijuma said the silent culture on menstruation leads to it being viewed as a weakness and stigma for women and girls.
“The menstruation subject is hardly ever discussed freely in families, schools or the public.
"I am leading an initiative to change the discourse, visiting schools and supporting girls from vulnerable backgrounds to access sanitary towels,” she said.
Mwijuma further said that it has been reported from various marginalised regions and rural areas that school girls have been using unhygienic materials.
The materials include torn pieces of cloth, mattress sponge, animal skin, old rags, leaves, cow dung or even digging a hole on the ground to sit on through the whole period as a means to manage their menstrual flow.
“Use of unhygienic materials can lead to leakage, infections, psychological discomfort which may culminate to poor performance and stigmatisation,” she said.
Mwijuma said the inaccessibility of menstrual products results in embarrassment, anxiety and shame when girls and women stain their clothes.
“Schoolgirls describe menstruation as a time of anxiety and discomfort especially at school, leading to low concentration in class,” she said.
Kitui Woman Representative Irene Kasalu warned chiefs against abetting mediation over rape or defilement cases in the county.
Kasalu said rape cases are spiralling each day adding that majority of the perpetrators are fathers.
She said it is criminal to meditate over such cases adding that culpable chiefs will face the law.
Kasalu said that this scenario is precipitated by incessant dissuasion by emissaries sent by perpetrators to subvert justice.
They ignore government arbitration agencies in a bid to allow the intervention of kangaroo courts moderated by the elders determine the matter.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)