Nanyuki CBO Launches Annual 10KM Run to Champion Menstrual Hygiene Awareness

A community-based organization in Nanyuki has unveiled an annual 10-kilometre run aimed at promoting menstrual hygiene awareness and mobilizing support for vulnerable girls and women in pastoral communities.

The initiative, spearheaded by Binti Mwangaza, seeks to address persistent challenges faced by girls who struggle to access menstrual products due to economic hardship. Organizers say the run will serve both as a fundraising platform and a public awareness campaign to break stigma surrounding menstruation.

Speaking during the launch, representatives from the organization emphasized the urgent need to support girls in marginalized areas, where lack of access to sanitary products often leads to school absenteeism and, in some cases, dropout.

“Menstrual health is not just a hygiene issue—it’s an education and dignity issue,” one of the coordinators said. “Through this run, we want the community to come together and ensure no girl misses school because of her period.”

Binti Mwangaza has already made significant strides in the region. Over the past few years, the organization has supported more than 30,000 school-going girls with menstrual products, helping them stay in school and maintain their confidence during their cycles.

The annual run is expected to draw participants from across Laikipia County and beyond, including students, athletes, local leaders, and development partners. Funds raised will go toward the distribution of dignity kits—packages that include sanitary towels, underwear, and hygiene essentials—to girls and women in remote pastoral areas.

Community members have welcomed the initiative, noting that it not only provides practical support but also fosters open conversations around a topic that is often considered taboo.

Organizers expressed optimism that the event will grow into a major fixture on the region’s calendar, amplifying the message that menstrual health is a shared responsibility.

The inaugural run is scheduled for later this year, with registration details expected to be announced in the coming weeks.