The Embu County Government is set to give female students free underwear and sanitary pads in a bid to keep them in school.
The programme to be implemented by the Children Services Department will cost the county Sh3 Million.
County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Gender, Culture, Children and Social Services Joan Mwende explained that the programme would especially benefit underprivileged girls who would sometimes avoid school due to self-esteem issues.
She noted that the importance of self-hygiene could not be overstated and acknowledged the failures of past leaders in properly equipping female students.
County Assembly Gender Committee chairperson Sicily Warue also backed the plan but decried the non-involvement of Members of the County Assembly in similar projects.
[caption caption="Gender Chief Officer Jane Ndegi (left) and CEC Joan Mwende"]
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She maintained that the ward reps should be involved in distribution of the materials as they have a closer connection with citizens on the ground.
Warue asserted that getting them involved would help increase awareness and support for the program.
It was also announced that the Gender Department had set aside Sh15 Million for a program to empower women economically through arts and crafts.
Gender Chief Officer Jane Ndegi told County Review that Sh3 Million had already been spent on a benchmarking trip to Mombasa where MCAs and community representatives toured successful handicraft businesses.
They plan to use Sh7 million to purchase 12 Kikoi-making machines and 15 sewing machines for various women groups across the county.
[caption caption="Embu Governor Martin Wambora"]
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