By Eddah Waithaka
Vivo Energy Kenya has ramped up its commitment to keep thousands of local students in class, delivering a fresh batch of “Dignity Kits” to Lugala Education Complex as part of a three-year-old health programme tackling hygiene, menstrual stigma, and absenteeism.
The Shell-branded fuel distributor donated 4,800 sanitary pads, 1,600 panties, and 450 boxers to learners in Kakamega County on Wednesday. The handover marks the third year of the company’s partnership with the Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation, a joint initiative that has now cumulatively distributed more than 10,000 sanitary pads, 3,487 panties, and 1,204 boxers to adolescents since 2024, alongside soap, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.
For many Kenyan schoolgirls, a lack of access to sanitary products translates directly into lost classroom time. On average, girls miss three to four days of school each month nearly two weeks per term. Research consistently links that cycle of absenteeism to declining grades and higher dropout rates.
“The programme is in line with our Sustainability Strategy anchored on our commitment to create solutions that positively impact the communities that we serve,” said Angela Munyua, Vivo Energy Kenya’s Communications Manager, during the handover. “We want every child to stay in school, especially girls who can miss school and consequently have poor academic results due to a lack of sanitary pads.”
She urged students to focus on their studies, thanked parents for their support, and called on other well-wishers to join the cause. “We encourage other well-wishers to join the cause and help us keep Kenya’s youth in school by providing them with Dignity Kits.
Vivo Energy Kenya is proud to partner with the Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation to eliminate barriers in education, promote health education and create equal opportunities for girls and boys to learn, grow, and achieve their full potential.”
Okwara Oliver, Principal of Lugala Secondary School, described the annual donation as transformative. “We have seen improved school attendance, greater confidence, and enhanced dignity among students who no longer have to miss classes during their menstrual cycle,” he said. “This support is helping more girls stay in school, complete their education, and achieve better academic outcomes.”
He added that the programme has created a more inclusive learning environment. “By addressing a key barrier to education, it has enabled girls to participate fully in school life, resulting in improved attendance, higher completion rates, and stronger academic performance.”
Mr. Hannington Kimathi Khayati, Director of Programmes at Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation, framed the initiative as central to the Foundation’s broader vision of conserving the Kakamega Forest through community empowerment. “For more than a decade, our Foundation has partnered with various schools to donate sanitary pads. We have witnessed a significant reduction in absenteeism among girls, contributing to improved academic outcomes.”
He credited Vivo Energy Kenya’s sustained support for enabling year-round supply and expansion. “Through their generous donations and that of our other sponsors, we have managed to reach more than 1,500 girls and 1,600 boys this year. The support we have received over the years has seen the foundation growing from donating to two to fifteen schools in Kakamega county.”
A 2016 Foundation Strategy Group report found that only 65% of girls and women in Kenya can afford sanitary products, and an estimated 20% of school-going girls miss classes due to lack of access, a statistic that underscores the programme’s urgency.
The initiative has also sparked broader discussions on menstrual health, personal hygiene, and life skills, helping to build self-awareness and prevent early pregnancies. With partners including Mama Ibado Charity and R-Squad, the programme is now part of Vivo Energy Kenya’s wider community agenda, which links education, health, environmental conservation, and youth development.
For the hundreds of learners at Lugala, the message was clear: dignity keeps them in school, and school keeps their futures bright.
