The Changing Lives of Maasai Women

An article in Nation Magazine posted this month reports on various positive changes in Maasai women’s lives, in particular work programs like soap-making and making re-usable sanitary pads. You can read the full article here. Below is an excerpt with a quote from Caroline Kiugo, Project Manager at the Anne K. Taylor Fund.

The Esidai Women’s Group sew reusable sanitary pads for local women and girls. The group of eight meet five times a week, and each earns Sh400 a day.

Feminine hygiene products are expensive and rarely available here. This is despite Kenya passing a law in 2017, which required the government to distribute free sanitary pads to all schoolgirls.

In 2018, 14-year-old Jackline Chepngeno took her own life in Bomet County after her teacher allegedly embarrassed her for having her period in class. It was her first period, and she did not have a sanitary pad.

“The free pads don’t reach the schools here,” explains Caroline Kiugo, Project Manager at the Anne K. Taylor Fund (AKTF), the organisation behind both soap and pad projects.