Nairobi,Kenya: Rex Eringo’s mission began with a chance encounter on the road to his Meru County rural home. Driving home one Wednesday morning, he noticed a young girl walking awkwardly, her dress stained with menstrual blood.

 “She would turn around whenever someone moved close to her,” he recalls. After confirming her plight—she had no access to sanitary pads—Rex and his wife sprang into action. Though the girl had left by the time they returned with pads, Rex didn’t stop there.

Determined to find a sustainable solution, he researched reusable pads online and also contacted a friend based in India to obtain samples of the product.

Rex and his wife later launched AdaPads, named after their daughter, Adeline. “We use materials that can be safely disposed of. Once buried, they decompose naturally,” he explains. Priced at Ksh 620, AdaPads offer a cost-effective alternative to disposable pads, which cost around Ksh 5,400 over three years at the average monthly price of Kes150 per pack.

The trained medic and entrepreneur’s efforts have reached over 200 schools and 200,000 people, including learners and communities in the country’s remote arid regions.

 “Our product is nearly nine times cheaper than conventional disposable pads,” he says, highlighting its beneficial impact on girls who might otherwise miss school due to period stigma or resort to transactional sex for pads.

 In Kenya, the intersection of gender norms, menstrual health, and unplanned pregnancies has long been a silent crisis. But today, a wave of change is emerging, driven by passionate individuals and grassroots initiatives. From reusable sanitary pads to open dialogues about sexual health, Kenyan teens and their allies are rewriting the narrative—despite systemic hurdles.

 The State of Menstrual Hygiene in Kenya

Recent data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and UNICEF reveals stark disparities: 1 in 10 girls misses school during menstruation due to lack of access to sanitary products (KNBS, 2023). According to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) data published in 2024, only 65% of women and girls in urban areas have consistent access to menstrual hygiene products, compared to 48% in rural regions.

 Ministry of Health statistics published in 2023 reveal that more than 1 in 5 or 23% of adolescent girls resort to unsafe alternatives like rags, newspaper, or even leaves.

 These gaps perpetuate cycles of absenteeism and dropout, with girls losing up to 20% of the school year due to menstruation-related challenges.

Challenging Gender Norms: June Q’s Fight in Mathare

In Nairobi’s Mathare slums, June Q, chairperson of Generation Shapers, a community-based organisation (CBO), is determined to dismantle long-held gender barriers.

“When I ran for the chairperson’s position, I knew I was up against long-held traditions of male leadership,” she says. Her victory in a male-dominated organization became a catalyst for change.

 Among other pressing societal challenges, Generation Shapers tackles period poverty and the exploitation of young girls in Mathare’s populous Area 3.

“For a long time, men would ask girls for sex in exchange for pads,” June explains. “This exposes them to unintended pregnancies, early marriages, and HIV.”

 Through open forums, the initiative encourages men to empathize with the girls’ plight as part of solving the community’s problem of girls dropping out of school due to engaging in unprotected transactional sex. “We ask them to imagine their daughters or sisters being exploited and appeal for their unconditional support in ensuring that the girls complete their education,” she says.

The Stark Reality: Unplanned Pregnancies and Their Toll

Speaking to the media during a recent workshop Dr. Anthony Ajayi of the African Population and Health Research Council (APHRC) sheds light on the devastating consequences of unplanned pregnancies. A study in Korogocho slums revealed that 77% of teenage pregnancies were unplanned, with 49% of mothers still in school. Peer pressure, poverty, and sexual violence have been identified as key drivers for the young people to engage in sex that rarely occurs without a condom. 

Cultural taboos around menstruation intensified feelings of embarrassment and isolation. Girls described being teased or shamed, especially when they experienced leaks in public spaces.“Some girls were simply ignorant of the consequences,” Dr. Ajayi notes. 

Cultural taboos around menstruation intensified feelings of embarrassment and isolation. Girls described being teased or shamed, especially when they experienced leaks in public spaces.The fallout is severe: 40% of teen mothers experience mild depression, while 25% grapple with suicidal thoughts. Nearly half endure abuse, often from partners or even healthcare providers.

The Battle for Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE)

A critical gap in Kenya’s response is the lack of CSE. Conservative opposition, fueled by misinformation, has stymied progress. “Some teachers refuse to teach it, leaving adolescents to rely on peers,” Dr. Ajayi says. Myths—like using black tea to terminate pregnancies—persist, and APHRC data released in 2024 shows that 60% of youth lack accurate HIV knowledge.

Despite the vocal resistance that also involves support from radical conservative groups in the US and Europe, NGOs are stepping in. “We’re seeing fewer unintended pregnancies and increased contraceptive use,” says Sharon Musakali of HENNET Kenya.

Through its Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) and Vision 2030 commitments, Kenya aims to reduce adolescent pregnancies from 14% to 10% by 2025, but Musakali stresses inclusivity in programs designed to contain the challenge: “We have children under 15 who are already mothers. They’re being left out on interventions,” she says.

Policy Gaps and Progress

Kenya’s 2017 removal of VAT on sanitary products marked progress, but persistent affordability and distribution gaps remain unresolved. The 2024/25 Finance Bill sends mixed signals by reaffirming the 0% VAT on sanitary pads while maintaining a 16% VAT on imported raw materials for local manufacturers, raising production costs, and introducing a controversial Ksh 150/kg eco-tax on disposable pads to promote eco-friendly alternatives—a move critics warn could price out low-income girls reliant on disposable options.

While the bill proposes tax incentives for local producers of reusable pads, activists stress the need for broader reforms, including subsidies and expanded access to ensure menstrual equity reaches all Kenyan girls.

Despite a Kes 470 million state allocation for free pads in schools in 2024, up from Ksh 300 million in 2023, experts in the sector have called it insufficient. A 2023 parliamentary report found that only 12% of public schools provide free pads, despite a government pledge to distribute them nationally.

Rex is urging the government to consider granting tax breaks for local manufacturers: “Subsidies would let us produce the pads at more affordable prices and reach more girls,” he points out.

 A Glimmer of Hope

For Rex, June, and Dr. Ajayi, the fight is far from over. Rex advocates for tax breaks to scale AdaPads, while June continues shifting mindsets in Mathare. Dr. Ajayi emphasizes education and empathy: “If we can break the silence and stigma around adolescent and young people’s reproductive health, we can break the cycle,” he asserts.

In a nation where tradition and modernity collide, these stories offer hope for a revolution in the menstrual hygiene sector. The road is long, but the determination to overcome is unwavering. As June puts it, “We’re gradually shifting mindsets—one conversation at a time.”

 Key Data Highlights