It’s not our fault, say girls in sex for pads trade
What you need to know:
- Women’s rights activists in Subukia Sub-county have called for intervention to save the girls from sex predators luring them in exchange for sanitary towels.
- Some of the girls said they come from poor families and their parents are unable to buy sanitary towels, especially because they have been rendered jobless by Covid-19.
- Some expressed disappointment over the inability to secure jobs under the Kazi Mtaani initiative.
The far-reaching effects of Covid-19 pandemic have resulted to unavailability of sanitary towels for girls, exposing them to dangerous activities in exchange for the essential items.
In Subukia Sub-county, Nakuru County, women’s rights activists have called for intervention to save the girls from sex predators luring them in exchange for sanitary towels.
This, they say, is exposing them to sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/Aids and early pregnancies.
Speaking at Kamemo Primary School in Munanda location, some of the girls said they come from poor families and their parents are unable to buy sanitary towels, especially because they have been rendered jobless by Covid-19.
“It’s not our fault. Mensuration is often a difficult moment for most girls and since some of our parents are jobless due to Covid-19 and are unable to buy the sanitary towels, we are forced to exchange sex to get money to buy the sanitary towels,” said one of the girls.
Kazi mtaani
Some, however, expressed disappointment over the inability to secure jobs under the Kazi Mtaani initiative.
“It’s sad that we are only seeing girls from other locations in Subukia getting these jobs but here at Munanda, we were discriminated and none are working under the Kazi Mtaani initiative,” said another girl.
The same sentiments were echoed by the young men in the location who said they were not considered for the Kazi Mtaani jobs.
Nominated MCA Isabella Makori urged the government to set aside more funds to buy sanitary towels for girls during the pandemic.
“Sex-for-sanitary towels is robbing young girls of their dignity. I urge the national government to set aside more funds to buy the sanitary towels for girls from poor backgrounds,” said Ms Makori while distributing the sanitary towels and soaps last Sunday.
She thanked Governor Lee Kinyanjui’s administration for donating the sanitary towels.
