Kenya Turns Maize Waste into Hope: Moi University Pilot Project Revolutionizes Affordable Sanitary Pads for Rural Women

At a time when menstrual hygiene remains a challenge for many low-income households in Kenya, a new innovation led by Moi University is gaining attention for turning agricultural waste into a practical solution. The university recently hosted a stakeholders’ workshop at Sirikwa Hotel Eldoret to advance a groundbreaking project focused on the decentralized, community-driven production of sanitary pads made from maize stalks.

The initiative brings together partners including the Open University of Kenya, the County Government of Uasin Gishu, the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI), and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), alongside development partners and community-based organizations. The project is supported by the Fund for Innovation in Development (FID), aimed at scaling innovative solutions to social challenges.

Speaking during the workshop, Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kiplagat Kotut noted that the project transforms maize stalk agricultural waste into affordable menstrual hygiene products while simultaneously addressing environmental sustainability and creating income-generating opportunities for women in rural communities.

Currently, the pilot phase is underway in Kesses Sub-County, where local women’s groups are actively involved in production. The initiative is not only improving access to sanitary products for low-income women and girls but is also strengthening grassroots enterprise development and community participation in manufacturing.

Beyond menstrual health, the project is being hailed as a model for circular economy innovation—linking agriculture, waste management, and women’s economic empowerment. Stakeholders at the workshop emphasized the importance of scaling the initiative, ensuring quality standards, and building sustainable supply chains that can support wider adoption across Kenya.

If successful, the maize stalk sanitary pad project could reshape how rural menstrual health solutions are designed—turning farm waste into dignity, opportunity, and environmental progress.