Women MPs have renewed their push to improve reproductive health rights for women and girls across the country through the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA).

In a round table meeting on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the women legislators engaged key partners, namely; United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), representatives from the Ministry of Health and International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH) Kenya to explore ways on strengthening menstrual health and hygiene management in the country.

An issue which topped the agenda was the need for a consistent budget allocation, cross-sectional collaboration and firm accountability to guarantee that no girl misses school or loses her dignity because of menstruation.

Orwoba’s bill

The women MPs lauded Senator Gloria Orwoba for sponsoring the Provision of Sanitary Towels Bill, 2024, exuding confidence in the Bill for its progressive clauses.

“If passed, the Bill will institutionalise the free and quality provision of sanitary towels in public schools and facilities nationwide, a game changer for menstrual justice in Kenya,” Nairobi County MPEsther Passaris remarked.

The stakeholders’ roundtable equally provided a platform to explore possible areas of collaboration and sensitise women MPs to the “Flow with Pride Campaign” launched by UNFPA with funding from the Embassy of Denmark, which seeks to combat period stigma and ensure menstrual dignity for every girl.

UNFPA representative, Anders Thomsen, underscored the need for local production of sanitary towels to make them more affordable to school girls and women.

Research conducted in 2022 by the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) revealed that 65% of girls in rural areas and 52% in urban areas face difficulties in accessing sanitary products, a reality that still hinders some girls from attending school during their menstrual cycle.

Period poverty

Jackline Kisia, from the Ministry of Health, called for the expansion of sanitary towels beyond Primary and Secondary schools.

“We need to include Tertiary Institutions as recommended by a Parliamentary Committee in 2023,” Kisia observed.

“Why do girls deserve dignity during school sessions only? Does poverty go on holidays?” she quipped.

In her closing remarks, KEWOPA vice chairperson and Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi acknowledged the support given by partners in ending period poverty in Kenya.

“We thank UNFPA, JHPIEGO, the Ministry of Health and other partners for walking with us on this important journey in making menstruation manageable for every Kenyan girl,” Elachi noted.