The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), in partnership with the Swedish Institute for Standards, has launched a campaign to standardize and regulate menstrual health products in Kenya, amid growing concerns about the safety and accessibility of sanitary items used by millions of women and girls.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ forum held in Nairobi, KEBS officials underscored the urgent need to implement and enforce quality standards for both disposable and reusable menstrual products. This follows alarming research findings that revealed high levels of lead in some disposable sanitary pads sold on the market.“Research by Columbia University found high lead content in some disposable products,” said Zachariah Lukorito, KEBS Director for Standards Development. “This is why we are prioritizing awareness and implementation of standards to ensure safety, quality, and accessibility of menstrual health products.”Lukorito noted that about 80 percent of Kenya’s menstrual product manufacturers focus on reusable pads, most of which come from the micro and small enterprise (MSE) sector.
He emphasized that KEBS is working to support these manufacturers by developing national certification standards that will allow them to enter the formal market and ensure product safety.
The newly developed standards—created through national technical committees—address key areas such as absorbency, safety testing, and material quality. Similar efforts are underway at the East African regional level to harmonize benchmarks, which officials say will boost trade and consumer safety across borders.
The conversation around menstrual health is not only about product safety but also accessibility. KEBS data shows that over 1.8 million school-going girls in Kenya lack access to menstrual products, causing them to miss an average of four school days each month.
While the government allocated KSh 940 million in the 2023/2024 financial year to supply free sanitary towels in public schools, the budget only met 22 percent of the national demand.
With the demand for cost-effective and sustainable menstrual products on the rise, local social enterprises are stepping in to fill the gap. One such organization is Ahadi Pads, founded by Bethsheba Otuga.
The enterprise not only produces reusable sanitary pads but also runs outreach programs on menstrual hygiene education and pad-making training.“Ahadi Pads is about mitigating period poverty,” Otuga said. “We see girls missing school and even engaging in transactional sex just to afford pads. That’s why we train women to make pads—either for personal use or to generate income—and we also educate young girls on menstrual health.”
The forum concluded with a strong call for policy reforms that promote equitable access to safe, eco-friendly, and affordable menstrual products. Stakeholders urged increased support for small-scale manufacturers and continued collaboration with international partners like Sweden to enforce safety and quality standards.
KEBS and the Swedish Institute for Standards reaffirmed their commitment to advancing menstrual health equity in Kenya and the region through regulatory support, awareness campaigns, and technical assistance.“This is more than a health issue,” said Lukorito. “It’s about dignity, opportunity, and equality for every girl and woman in Kenya.”
