NAIROBI, Kenya-In her sit-down with the Iko Nini Podcast, Senator Gloria Orwoba opens up about what went down after her red-stained pants protest—and how she’s learned to take control of her story.
The moment went viral. Some called it outrageous. Others called it brave. But for Gloria, it was a statement, calling out period stigma and the government’s silence on menstrual health.
“We’re so uncomfortable with women bleeding that we’d rather police optics than fix the problem,” she says.
The reaction was instant. Memes, harsh comments, and online trolling followed. But Gloria didn’t back down. Instead, she kept the conversation going—and made sure her voice led it.
“If I let them tell my story, I lose. So I told it myself—and loud.”
She talks about learning to use the media to her advantage. Not just reacting to the headlines—but creating them. For her, it’s about getting ahead of the story before someone else rewrites it.
The protest wasn’t just about a stain. It was about how quickly people turn on women who refuse to stay quiet.
And how society often cares more about how something looks than what it means.