A senator from Kenya was expected from parliament for showing up to a session while wearing a white suit stained in red, apparently as part of a menstrual activism campaign.
On Wednesday, February 15, Gloria Orwoba of the ruling coalition was scheduled to introduce a motion on a measure that would offer free sanitary pads as part of efforts to end period poverty.
The speaker of parliament, Mr. Amason Kingi ordered the senator to go change her clothes before she could be readmitted to the chambers.
“Having periods is never a crime… Senator Gloria I sympathise with you that you are going through the natural act of menstruation, you have stained your wonderful suit, I’m asking you to leave so that you go change and come back with clothes that are not stained,” the speaker said.
The Senator Orwoba spoke with reporters outside the chambers and said:
“We’re pushing to end the shadow pandemic which is actually period stigma and period poverty. One of the things that I’m advocating for and trying to legislate is to ensure that we give free sanitary towels to all school-going children.”
