Vivo Energy Kenya has ramped up its commitment to provide essential ‘Dignity Kits’ to thousands of local students in order to advance a health programme promoting personal hygiene, menstrual health, dignity and school attendance for young learners.
On its third year of the partnership with the Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation, Vivo Energy Kenya, the company that markets and distributes Shell-branded fuels and lubricants in Kenya has donated 4,800 sanitary pads, 1,600 panties and 450 boxers to students at Lugala Education Complex in Kakamega County.
Access to personal hygiene items and menstrual hygiene products in particular remains a significant challenge for many learners in Kenya. School girls who lack access to sanitary products miss, on average, three to four days of school each month. This is the equivalent to nearly two weeks of classroom learning every school term. Research also shows that prolonged menstrual absenteeism contributes to declining academic performance and increases the likelihood of school dropout.
Since the joint community initiative was launched in 2024, Vivo Energy Kenya and the Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation have cumulatively distributed more than 10,000 sanitary pads, 3,487 panties and 1,204 boxers to adolescent learners, alongside essential personal hygiene products including soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
Speaking during the handover, Angela Munyua, Vivo Energy Kenya Communications Manager said, “This programme is in line with our Sustainability Strategy anchored on our commitment to create solutions that positively impact the communities that we serve. We want every child to stay in school, especially girls who can miss school and see a consequently have poor academic results due to a lack of sanitary pads.”
She added, “We urge the students, to put effort in their schoolwork, and thank parents for their continued support as the children continue learning. 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, Lugala Secondary School appreciated the program’s impact on the students saying it had contributed towards better learning outcomes for girls saying, “The annual donation of sanitary pads and pants has had a transformative impact on our learners, particularly girls. We have seen improved school attendance, greater confidence, and enhanced dignity among students who no longer have to miss classes during their menstrual cycle. This support is helping more girls stay in school, complete their education, and achieve better academic outcomes.”
“This programme has contributed significantly to creating 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,” added Lugala.
Speaking during the event, Hannington Kimathi Khayati, Director of Programmes at Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation, highlighted the Foundation’s vision for local communities: “At Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation, our vision is to conserve the Kakamega Forest and to achieve this, the community needs to be involved. The Foundation has come up with a multi-faceted empowerment programme including the distribution of sanitary pads and underwear. 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 appreciated Vivo Energy Kenya’s support to the programme over the years: “For the past three years, Vivo Energy Kenya has played an essential role to enable our foundation to have a year-round supply of sanitary pads. 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. We are committed to building on this progress and expanding the programme to benefit even more students in the years ahead.”
A 2016 report by the Foundation Strategy Group (FSG) found that only 65% of girls and women in Kenya can afford sanitary products, while an estimated 20% of school-going girls miss classes due to a lack of access to sanitary kits, highlighting the significant impact of these products on education.
The Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation and other partners including Mama Ibado Charity and R-Squad lauded the continued collaboration, noting the initiative has improved access to menstrual hygiene products and helped restore dignity and enhanced school attendance for many girls.
Additionally, the programme sparked discussions on menstrual health, personal hygiene, and life skills among students to grow their self-awareness and prevent cases of early pregnancies.
This initiative is part of Vivo Energy Kenya’s broader community development agenda, which focuses on creating shared value through strategic investments in education and health, environmental conservation, and youth development.
With this initiative, Vivo Energy Kenya and the Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation are helping more learners remain in school, complete their education and build brighter futures.
