On the heels of World Menstrual Health Day, faith actors from across Kenya and beyond came together in a powerful webinar hosted by Faith to Action Network to address a subject long shrouded in silence: menstrual health and education. Under the theme “Faith Leaders as Champions of Menstrual Health and Education,” the dialogue brought together clergy, youth advocates, and community organizers to confront stigma, share theological insights, and chart a path forward rooted in compassion, dignity, and justice.

“Menstrual health is not merely a hygiene issue,” declared Reverend Norah Njoni in her opening remarks. “It is deeply woven into the fabric of dignity, education, gender equality, and human rights.” She emphasized the powerful position faith actors hold in both urban and remote communities, calling on them to actively dismantle stigma and restore dignity for girls and women.

Winnie Kemunto, a youth advocate and member of the SDA Church, delivered a compelling presentation demystifying harmful myths surrounding menstruation. “Menstruation is not a curse or a sign of impurity, it is a natural, hormonal process vital to life,” she stated. Sharing her own story, she underscored how poverty, misinformation, and cultural silence continue to rob girls of their dignity and education.

Bishop Dr. Elphas Abayo and Abdiaziz Boru offered biblical and Quran grounding for inclusion, Bishop Dr Elphas citing the story of the bleeding woman in Mark 5: “Where Jesus is, everyone is included,” he said. “Jesus did not exclude her, He healed her and called her ‘daughter’.” He called on churches to reinterpret Scripture with empathy and reject discriminatory practices that isolate menstruating girls and women.

Bishop Cyrus Mugoh, Bishop of the National Independent Church of Africa in Meru, added: “The Holy Spirit is given to all men and women. Menstrual status should never disqualify a woman from serving in the church.” He recalled painful memories of women being barred from altars and leadership due to menstruation and urged for theological reform.

Key Takeaways:

• Menstrual education is everyone’s responsibility, including fathers, pastors, and imams.
• Faith institutions must break their silence and provide safe, affirming spaces for menstruating individuals.
• The pulpit must be used to challenge harmful norms, not reinforce them.
• Community-led menstrual health education combats poverty, shame, and dropout rates among girls.
• Biblical and Islamic teachings, when interpreted with compassion, support inclusion and dignity.

Call to Action:

We invite all faith leaders, congregants, educators, and community champions to rise and say: Periods are not shameful. They are powerful.

Let us preach from our pulpits, teach in our mosques and churches, and parent in our homes with openness, truth, and dignity. Together, we can ensure that no girl misses school, church, or life because of her period. We should all be champions of period education.