Wamuzi News Ke
In a landmark event for the nation, Governor of Nairobi County Johnson Sakaja has made it possible to implement a revolutionary menstrual health policy that allows all female county employees to take two days of paid leave a month.
The unprecedented move formally adopted by the Sakaja Cabinet on Tuesday, December 16, not only makes Nairobi the first Kenyan jurisdiction to factor menstrual health issues into its human resource planning, but it also leads the whole country in this aspect.
The significant approval came after a detailed cabinet memorandum that underlined the issue of dysmenorrhea, or severe menstrual pain, which is often ignored by society, and its strong influence on women’s professional lives.
The studies referred to in the policy show that up to 80% of women have menstrual pain or discomfort, and a percentage of them have symptoms so serious that they cannot perform their work properly.
The County of Nairobi has a very large, diverse workforce where women are more than half. The lack of any formalized support for these women has always caused a drop in their productivity, an increase in presenteeism (where employees are physically present but not able to perform at their best), and a deterioration of the supply of essential county services.
Previously, female staff members would often have to come to work feeling unwell or take unpaid leave. The new policy intends to fill this void by providing structured, paid support that places no extra burden on the county’s budget.
“The policy acknowledges that backing the health of women is not only a question of justice but also a good management of the institution,” the cabinet paper indicated.
The county is of the opinion that even a small recovery of productivity losses—by permitting staff to take breaks during the very bad times—will in the end be a great institutional advantage.
The Public Service Management subsector together with the County Public Service Board is to carry out the implementation quickly.
The policy, however, ensures the utmost confidentiality and that taking these menstrual health days will not in any way affect one’s performance reviews or career advancement. The provision of essential services without interruption will be achieved by means of advance shift swapping and relief rosters.
Nairobi’s move puts it in the same category as a small but increasing number of global and African organizations that have realized the necessity of menstrual support that is formalized.
The city has especially followed Zambia’s example, as in 2015 the latter became the first African country to legally allow “Mother’s Day”—a day set aside for women with menses—as a menstrual leave period.
