Kapenguria, West Pokot County — September 3, 2025.
Studies and news reports indicate that a significant number of Kenyan girls miss school due to the lack of sanitary towels, with figures often citing around one million girls missing four days of school per month. Some reports mention that up to 95% of menstruating girls miss one to three school days each month, while others highlight that 65% of girls in some rural areas miss classes due to a lack of affordable sanitary pads.
In an article carried by the Daily Nation Sunday, July 27, 2025 on Unkept promise the writer states that girls from poor families miss upto 20 percent of school days in a year due to lack of sanitary towels. This absenteeism results in 20% of school days being lost in a year for some girls from poor families and can lead to girls falling behind in their studies and impacting their overall education.
The Kenya Scouts Association (KSA) has delivered a fresh boost to girls’ education in West Pokot County, rolling out a sanitary towel distribution drive to ensure that learners from vulnerable households can attend school with dignity and consistency.
The initiative coordinated through Association’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative (CSR) saw the issuance of 5000 sanitary towels to students at Marich Pass Secondary School and Our lady of Peace Pser. In addition to distributing sanitary towels, Marich Pass Secondary School was equipped with the much needed window curtains aimed at improving the comfort, privacy, and overall aesthetic of dormitories in the school, providing learners with a conducive space for growth and development.
“No learner should miss class because of a natural cycle,” said Alice Kihungi, the Deputy Chief Commissioner at the Association during the handing over of the sanitary towels to the schools. “Today’s action is about dignity, safety, and keeping girls in class all term long”, she said adding that the Association will continue to support the Government in its mandate of provision of equal education opportunities by ensuring girls in the school remain in class.
Dr. Esther Musani, TSC County Director West Pokot commended the Scouts for strengthening existing school health programs through the CRS proramme which will enable the girls remain in class for the remainder of the school calendar.
In arid and semi-arid regions like West Pokot, barriers such as poverty, make menstrual products difficult to access. By providing a steady supply of sanitary towels and accurate information, the Scouts’ effort aims to reduce the number of school days missed each term, improve learning outcomes, and foster a supportive school environment for adolescent girls.
The head teacher at the school Marish Pass Secondary School appreciated the Association for the provision emphasizing that consistent availability of products directly correlates with improved attendance in class of the girls in the school which also serves as a rescue centre for girls escaping early marriages and female genital mutilation practices in the community.
The provision of sanitary products aligns with KSA’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality)—and with national efforts to end period poverty.
To sustain impact beyond the distribution, the Association in partnership with likeminded organization will be launching an integrated menstrual health programme which will include Menstrual health talks led by trained Scout leaders and community health volunteers, covering cycle tracking, hygiene, pain management, and safe disposal, Safe from Harm briefings emphasizing respectful conduct, privacy, and reporting channels for any harassment or abuse, Waste management demonstrations on discrete disposal methods, including use of bins and locally appropriate solutions to reduce environmental impact and the training of peer champions girls and boys selected from Scout patrols on basic menstrual health literacy and myth-busting, respectful, stigma-free communication and how to refer sensitive cases to teachers or health workers. These champions will support younger learners, help maintain a safe environment, and encourage a culture of empathy.
“When communities rally behind girls’ education, everyone wins,” said Betty Toroitich a student and scout at Marich Pass thanking the Scouting fraternity in the country for living the promise and helping where it matters most and ensuring they stay in school”.
KSA invites likeminded partners, county departments, private sector CSR programs, faith-based and community organizations, and well-wishers to join the Associations effort and replicate the model across other underserved counties. Contributions can include funding for supplies, logistics support, training resources, or waste management solutions. Kindly Reach out on info@kenyascouts.org/communications@kenyascouts.org
