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In an apparent menstrual activism campaign, a Kenyan member of parliament appeared wearing stained pants.
On Tuesday, Senator Gloria Orwoba arrived in a white suit with red stains to advocate for the free distribution of sanitary pads to girls and women in prison.
A notice of motion regarding a law granting women access to free sanitary pads was scheduled to be tabled by Orwoba.
The move by the UDA nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba attracted the attention of her colleague who raised the matter on the floor.
Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda sought speaker Amason Kingi’s advice on Orwoba’s dress code.
“I do stand seeking your guidance on the speaker’s rules rule number 5. I seek your advice if senator Gloria is properly dressed for the House,” Mutinda said.
“I find it very uncomfortable. Very inappropriate for our colleague Senator Gloria to step in and you don’t understand if she is on a normal woman cycle or she is faking it. It is so indecent” Mutinda said.
Minority leader Stewart Madzayo and his deputy Enoch Wambua also criticised Orwoba for lacking respect for the House of the Senate and the members.
“What Senator Gloria has done to this House is disgrace and a lot of shame,” Wambua said.
But Orwoba defended her dress code, saying she experienced ‘periods’ on her way to Parliament.
“I’m just dressed as per the Standing Orders. I’m covered. I have suit. I have collars. I’m just short of a tie.
The stain was, however, not of period blood but artificial colouring.
A group of MPs objected to her action, saying it was an inappropriate presentation, but Orwoba stood her ground, arguing that her menstrual cycle cannot interfere with her legislative duties.
“This is the period stigma that is making our girls kill themselves,” Senator Orwoba said.
“There is a girl who killed herself because of the same issue that I’m going through. And now I understand why. Because it is the women who are trying to make this thing a crime,” she said.
In her motion, Orwoba wants the Ministry of Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action to facilitate provision of feminine hygiene products in all public schools.
Further she wants the Ministry to ensure all schools that do not have bathrooms that facilitate privacy, cleanliness or proper disposal of hygrine products are properly equipped.
Meanwhile in Uganda, the government backtracked on its 2016 manifesto pledge to provide sanitary pads to school-going girls so that they do not run out of school when their menstrual periods start.
The minister of education and sports, Janet Museveni, said that this is not possible because the ministry does not have money to cater for the pledge.
Source:Matooke Republic and The Star