Nguvu Collective’s grassroots survey reveals alarming ranges of interval poverty, particularly in rural Kenya
The nationwide survey, backed by KEWOPA and 10 native companions, centres girls and ladies’ voices on Why Reasonably priced, High quality, & Enough Sanitary Pads Matter!
A groundbreaking survey on menstrual hygiene merchandise by international girls’s rights organisation Nguvu Collective has revealed essential accessibility gaps that expose girls and ladies to dangers of exploitation and sexual abuse.
Practically half of the surveyed respondents reported that there was a scarcity of sufficient outlets of their space promoting menstrual merchandise, highlighting a major accessibility hole.
Disturbingly, one in three respondents reported having personally confronted or been prone to sexual harassment, exploitation, or abuse because of a scarcity of entry to menstrual merchandise.
Titled ‘Echoing Voices from the Grassroots on Dignified Interval for All, ’ this nationwide survey studied the accessibility, affordability and sufficiency of menstrual merchandise in 45 counties of Kenya.
Led by 5 Nguvu Change Leaders, this survey brings the genuine voices of practically 9500 girls and ladies from the grassroots, with 50% of the respondents being from rural components of Kenya.
“A rustic can not declare to be making progress in menstrual well being & fairness if its insurance policies are extra supreme than actual, extra considered than research-based. This menstrual survey report sheds gentle on the cruel realities of interval poverty, breaking the silence round entry, affordability, and stigma. Each voice on this report is a name to motion, demanding that menstrual fairness, justice, and dignity be prioritised by our obligation bearers.”, – Nguvu Change Leaders Frida Karani, Harriet Afandi, Veronica Mwende and Amina Guyo, who have been the architects of this survey, stated.
This 5-month-long survey, performed from October 2024 to February 2025, has been supported by the Kenya Ladies Parliamentary Affiliation (KEWOPA) and greater than 10 different native companions.
“By this pathbreaking survey, Nguvu Change Leaders have amplified the voices of menstruating girls and ladies in Kenya, reiterating that entry to high quality and ample menstrual merchandise should be prioritized in laws. With KEWOPA’s help, we urge the Nationwide Meeting to behave on these findings. Passing the Provision of Sanitary Towels Invoice is one sturdy step in direction of closing the interval poverty hole and safeguarding the reproductive and psychological well being of ladies and ladies throughout Kenya”, – stated Preethi Herman, CEO of Nguvu Collective.
The survey interviewed recipients of sanitary pads from the federal government’s Sanitary Towels Program over the sufficiency.
41% of them talked about the provision was inadequate,
35% indicated that they had not obtained pads via this program, and
Solely 23.2% felt the provision was satisfactory.
“In 2022, the Auditor Common’s report on the Provision of Sanitary Towels to Ladies in Public Major Colleges highlighted inefficiencies in distribution. This analysis, performed with the help of KEWOPA and grassroots companions, confirms that high quality, affordability, and sufficiency are main considerations. The findings spotlight the cruel actuality that when menstrual merchandise are out of attain, the dignity and security of ladies and ladies are compromised. We can not proceed failing our ladies; that’s why KEWOPA proudly stands with Change Leaders and the Nguvu Collective in pushing for insurance policies that may prioritise dignity, entry, and fairness in menstrual well being.” KEWOPA Chairperson and Kajiado MP, Hon. Leah Sankaire.
The highest-level survey findings are:
Accessibility: 46% of respondents reported inadequate availability of menstrual merchandise of their space.
Exploitation. About 34% of respondents reported experiencing or being prone to sexual harassment, exploitation, or abuse because of a scarcity of menstrual merchandise. Amongst them, 13% confronted it incessantly, whereas 21% skilled it at the least as soon as.
High quality of menstrual merchandise: Absorbency (53%), consolation (48%) and pores and skin sensitivity (44%) have been recognized as high priorities, outweighing considerations similar to value, eco-friendliness, adhesive high quality and odour management.
Menstrual well being information: 58% of respondents thought of school-based menstrual well being training programmes the simplest manner to enhance consciousness.
Nguvu Collective plans to current these findings and suggestions to key stakeholders, together with nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba, sponsor of the Provision of Sanitary Towels Invoice, 2024, in Parliament. They can even interact with the Kenya Ladies Parliamentary Affiliation (KEWOPA), the Ministry of Well being and the Ministry of Gender, Tradition, the Arts, and Heritage to debate collaborative efforts and coverage interventions that guarantee the supply of free, high quality, and ample sanitary towels in public establishments and correctional services.
