Period poverty, child marriage still plague Kenyan girls in 2025

In 2025, Kenya prides itself as a progressive society striving toward gender equality and youth empowerment. However, beneath this progress lies a harsh reality - period poverty and child marriage remain unresolved issues in many parts of the country.

While national policies and frameworks are in place, experts now say the real battle lies at the grassroots level. In counties like Turkana, the challenge is no longer about legislation but about deep-rooted community norms and cultural practices that continue to derail efforts to protect girls and young women.

In Siaya County, 24-year-old Cindy recalls her experience growing up with little to no guidance on menstruation. “We were taught more about avoiding boys and sex, but not how to manage our periods,” she says. “Girls used pieces of cloth, mattress cuttings - anything they could find. It was only when I came to Nairobi that I learned about sanitary towels, thanks to Huru International, who gave us reusable ones.”

This mirrors the reality for many girls across Kenya. Despite the existence of the  Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Policy, implementation lags, particularly in rural and pastoralist communities.

Dr. Ann Mwangi a medical doctor with World Vision works closely with such communities notes that the challenge is not a lack of policies.

“We have a menstrual hygiene policy that outlines access, affordability, and disposal. But communities still treat menstruation as a taboo. Even parents who can afford pads don’t always prioritise buying them.”

The silence and shame around menstruation, compounded by poverty, create a perfect storm for girls.

“Some girls stay home for five days every month because they lack pads and fear the stigma if they stain their clothes,” says Teresa Otieno, Director of the Big Dream Program at World Vision Kenya.

“I’ve seen girls use soil, blankets, even mattresses just to manage their periods in isolation.”

A 2020 report by the Ministry of Health highlighted that only 46 percent of women and girls in rural areas and 65 percent in urban areas have access to disposable pads. Consequently, 20 percent resort to using improvised materials such as toilet paper, pieces of blanket, cloth, or natural materials to manage menstruation.

This monthly absenteeism builds up, leading to girls falling behind in their studies and eventually dropping out, increasing the risk of child marriage. Teresa adds,

“When a girl misses school regularly, families begin to see education as a waste and she is seen as ready for marriage”

Child marriages remain prevalent in areas like Turkana, where the cultural practice of beading begins as early as two months old. “Once a girl is beaded, she’s earmarked for marriage. By six, her mother starts preparing her for life as a wife,” Teresa explains. “By nine, she could become the fourth or fifth wife of an elderly man, decisions made by elders without considering the girl’s rights”

Though Kenya has laws against child marriage, enforcement is weak. “We work with the government, but community norms and kangaroo courts allow offenders to go unpunished,” Teresa explains, which undermines legal protection.

The World Bank has emphasised the economic implications of child marriage, stating that its eradication could save developing economies trillions of dollars by 2030, as it prevents girls from reaching their full economic potential.

Education is a powerful antidote to both child marriage and period poverty, yet it is often disrupted. “Even pregnant girls should be allowed to return to school,” Teresa says, stressing that discrimination only worsens the cycle

The primary drivers of child marriage in Kenya include

Poverty with approximately 60 percent of child marriages is driven by economic hardships, leading families to marry off young daughters in exchange for dowries

Teenage pregnancies contribute to 49 percent of child marriages, and 42 percent of cases are linked to limited educational opportunities, making marriage seem like a viable alternative.

Practices such as  Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and societal expectations account for 25 percent and 22 percent of cases, respectively.

In October 2024, World Vision Kenya launched The Big Dream to End Child Marriage program to reduce child marriage by 2030, targeting counties like Baringo, Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Migori, West Pokot, and Narok. The initiative focuses on empowering girls, improving education, and engaging communities.

World Vision is also partnering with the government and grassroots organisations, to improve menstrual health education, increase access to products, and ensure girls stay in school. However, experts say the solution lies in community involvement. Dr. Mwangi emphasises the importance of sensitization, stating, “Menstruation should be as normal as buying salt or soap.”

Educating boys is also crucial to reducing the stigma. “If a girl stains her dress, boys should support her, not shame her,” Adds Dr. Mwangi. Additionally, better disposal mechanisms for menstrual products are needed, especially in rural areas, where used pads are often discarded in unsustainable ways.

World Vision calls on stakeholders to unite. “Even saving one girl makes a difference. But it requires passion. We must challenge the patriarchal norms that perpetuate both period poverty and child marriage.”