Police officer melts hearts as he distributes sanitary pads to girls

A police officer based at Kabarnet Police Station in Baringo County has touched the hearts of many Kenyans after he was spotted distributing sanitary towels to candidates who experience their menstrual periods during exams.

Mr Cyprian Wendo said he was deeply touched after he came face to face with challenges faced by female Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates.

"As a parent myself, I was deeply moved by witnessing these struggles and I had to do something, even it is in a small way," Mr Wendo told AVDelta News in an interview.

Driven by compassion and a sense of duty, he took it upon himself to source sanitary towels and provide them to all the girls, ensuring that they could sit for their exams without any disruptions.

This was when he was on duty guarding exams at Riwo Day Secondary School and Kapsergong Secondary School in Baringo Central Constituency.

Social media users have heaped alot of praise on the kind officer.

"Well done Mr Officer. You have achieved what our Woman Representatives have failed," wrote Njeri Migwi.

On his part, Silas Otega wrote: " Very rare breed officers. Be blessed Sir".

Kipkurui Rono, another social media user said Mr Wendo's gesture was a clear indication that there are still nice police officers out there.

"There are still good police officers out there. Let's clap for this one," wrote Mr Rono.

Tabu Lule on his part wrote: "Sasa huyu ndiye anajua Utumishi Kwa Wote." loosely translated as “This one knows what ‘Service to All’ entails.”

Mr Harrison Musungu, another social media user, said Mr Wendo's gesture shows how small things can change the society.

"Through what you have done to those students, may the Almighty God open doors for your family in Jesus name," wrote Mr Musungu.

Studies have shown that girls from poor families miss 20 percent of school days in a year due to lack of sanitary towels.

According to data from the Ministry of Education, a girl that is absent from school for four(4) days in 28 days (month) loses 13 learning days, equivalent to two weeks of learning in every school term.

In an academic year (nine(9) months) a girl loses 39 learning days equivalent to six weeks of learning time. A girl in primary school between grades 6 and 8 (three years) loses 18 learning weeks out of 108 weeks.

Within the four years of high school a girl can lose 156 learning days equivalent to almost 24 weeks out of 144 weeks of learning.

To address this challenge, the Government, through the State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action has been charged with the responsibility of procuring and distributing sanitary towels for 3.7 million girls in public primary schools, special primary and secondary schools in the country at a cost of Sh470 million during the 2017/2018 Financial year alone.

The Sanitary Towels programme to girls in public schools was first launched in 2011 under the Ministry of Education which have been procuring and distributing the sanitary towels to girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.

It is estimated that the Treasury has pumped Sh1.9 billion into the programme and that has benefited 11.2 million girls.

The programme had previously been targeting girls in schools located at 82 former districts chosen from marginalised and slum areas.

Equally, a school’s location as per the National Poverty Index determined whether its pupils received the government-funded sanitary. In the new strategic initiative of the programme, it will now cater for all targeted girls in the entire country.

The programme was transferred from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Gender, The Arts, Culture and Heritage during the 2017/2018 financial year with a budget of Sh470 million.