The much publicized Shs 3 million Embu County free girls’ underwear project has received a major blow after members of the clergy condemned the program. Speaking recently, Bishop Samuel Nginye of the Redeemed Gospel Church (Mt Kenya South) said the remarks by the Culture, Children and Social Services County Executive Dr. Joan Mwende were unfortunate.
“She embarrassed mothers and women from Embu by making it seem like they don’t know how to take care of their daughters,” he said.
The Bishop further added that the CEC’s sentiments were demeaning and detrimental to girls and women in Embu County. According to him, women from Embu County should demand an official apology from Dr. Mwende who is behind the panty debate. The clergy also expressed their disappointment on women leaders in Embu noting that despite making the remarks a month ago, not a single women leader has lodged a complaint against Mwende.
Parents in Embu County shy away from buying their daughters panties. According to Dr Joan Mwende, the county head of gender, culture, children and social services, argues parents from that part of the woods consider underwear as culturally taboo.
Many girls in Embu thus suffer low self-esteem due to scarcity of underwear and with them, sanitary towels – two items they hardly ask their parents about when that time of the month comes.
The Embu County government, Dr Mwende said, plans to issue panties and sanitary pads to school going girls despite criticism and ridicule from a section of residents who thought the money should be put to ‘better’ use like bursaries and text books.
The Gender department has earmarked Sh3 million for panties and pads as the education department was already dealing with books and bursaries.
Dr Mwende explained that “provision of underwear to school going girl children from less fortunate families is a basic necessity just like food, water and shelter but has been shrouded in unnecessary stigma. There is need to demystify the underwear taboo to make children more comfortable.”
The Gender and Children’s Affairs department will also provide free sanitary towels to girls to promote menstrual hygiene.
The Gender and Children’s Affairs department had also said that it will provide free sanitary towels to girls to promote menstrual hygiene.
Gender Executive Joan Mwende said the move would help uplift the self-esteem of underprivileged girls and help stem girls’ skipping of school due to lack of pads.
The County Assembly Gender Committee chairperson Sicily Warue lauded the plan as well thought out.
Nyandarua First Lady Anne Kimemia was the butt of ridicule on social media after a photo of her underwear donation to primary school pupils was shared online.
Kenyans online inquired why the First Lady made the schoolboys to hold the donated underwear and pose for photos after the donation.
The First Lady, who stood on the third row in the photo, was roundly accused of humiliating needy children.
In the photos, the boys look elated as they receive the donation of oversize underwears from Mrs Kimemia. She meticulously removes one underwear at a time from a packet and hands it over to each of the boys.
The boys are then paraded for a group photo in which they lift the underwear over their heads.