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No more missing class? Pads drive targets over 92K students in Laikipia
18th February, 2026 05:58 PM
A large number of girls in Laikipia County are still missing classes during their menstrual cycle, denying them equal learning opportunities compared to boys.
According to Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri, some girls miss up to five days of learning every month during their periods. This translates to about 15 days in a school term, a significant setback to their academic progress.
“Here in Laikipia, a lot of girls still use leaves and old clothes as sanitary pads during menstruation. It is not fair because if a lady misses class 5 days per month, it is like missing class for 3 months in a year.
Some who do not have pads grow up as very shy ladies. We are encouraging them that periods are not shameful and periods is not a punishment,” said Kagiri.
In marginalised areas of the county, girls continue to rely on unhygienic materials during their menstrual cycle, exposing them to health risks and discomfort that further disrupts their education.
“Someone might think sanitary poverty died, but it is still with us. I am empowering girls, especially those from the marginalised areas of Laikipia, to ensure we fight this poverty.
“It is sad that sometimes girls get pregnant because of a lack of pads. Laikipia is a metropolitan county where we have some of the minor communities like the pastoralist and that is a challenge to us all,” she said.
Speaking during a sanitary towels distribution exercise to schools in Nanyuki, Kagiri said that through NGAAF, sanitary towels will be distributed to more than 290 schools across the county over the next 30 days, targeting about 92,000 students.
“I have just started a journey to visit all the 290 schools in Laikipia that means 92000 students. I will be giving a period package to all the girls to help them in the coming few months.
“The girls must stay in school just like the boys. Equity in empowerment is all I am looking for,” said Kagiri.
The distribution will also be supported by the provision of water tanks to selected schools to improve hygiene and sanitation, particularly in dry parts of the county where access to water remains a challenge.
Periods require cleanness, and as a result, I am also gifting water tanks to the schools. The water tanks are supposed to help the students in maintaining cleanness. The tanks will also be used to harvest rainwater in the dry parts of this county. Water is life and we all need it,” she said.
Kagiri called on organisations and well-wishers to support efforts aimed at ending period poverty and ensuring girls remain in school.
