In February 2020, Nairobi businessman Abdullahi Bulle (35) sought to offer immediate help to women in Nairobi by providing free sanitary pads for ladies who find themselves in an emergency situation.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Bulle who runs an online store, Nuria Online that sells books, electronics, stationery and clothes stated that he began the initiative after an encounter with a struggling school girl while carrying out his deliveries in the city.
"On my way back along Haile Selassie, I saw two students during the back to school period who were struggling to carry luggage, so I helped them by paying for a trolley for them and upon inquiring why they hadn't gotten a trolley, the female student told me she need the money to buy sanitary pads," he explained.
The former banker stated that it occurred to him to set up a place ladies in distress could acquire the sanitary pads for free especially if they could not afford them.
Bulle told this writer he could not remember how many ladies he had assisted since he started the free service in his store located along Moi Avenue, opposite Kilimanjaro Lavish.
"There are no strings attached, a lady can come to the shop and pick one or two pads without any questions. In case one is not able to afford, they can be given extra for a month or two," he added.
The businessman disclosed that a lady can pick the pads from the office when they are open which is from 9 am to 6:30 pm.
He had received a lot of support with donations of over 700 packets which he distributes from his shop as well.
Bulle observed that the menstrual cycle should not be used as a conduit to take advantage of women adding that in some areas, men provided the pads in exchange for sexual favours.
A 2016 report on the Menstrual Hygiene Landscape in Kenya sponsored by the Melinda Gates Foundation, showed that high-quality Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) remained a particular challenge for low-income women and girls.
Formative research showed that girls faced monthly challenges, with 65% of women and girls in Kenya unable to afford sanitary pads.
High costs and distribution challenges limit the accessibility of disposable pads to the majority of low-income girls and women, especially in rural areas, which was cited as an inhibitor to access to the products.
