NAIROBI, Kenya – A government programme credited with keeping thousands of vulnerable girls in school is at risk following a Sh104 million cut to the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) in the proposed 2025/2026 budget.
The allocation to NGAAF, which funds the distribution of sanitary towels among other social protection initiatives, has been slashed from Sh1.044 billion to Sh940 million—part of a wider austerity push by the Cabinet aimed at streamlining government spending.
The cuts were disclosed by Social Protection Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe during a presentation to Parliament, sparking a sharp response from women representatives who say the move undermines their constitutional mandate to support marginalised groups.
“The estimates tabled before this committee differ significantly with the State Department allocation as per the 2025 BPS Ceiling,” Wang’ombe admitted, noting that the reductions will also affect the Women Enterprise Fund and the Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Board.
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris expressed frustration over what she termed “a betrayal” of women and girls, warning that the consistent underfunding risks reversing progress in school retention rates for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“It’s very embarrassing that I can provide condoms but can’t provide sanitary towels to thousands of vulnerable girls in 17 constituencies within Nairobi County,” said Passaris. “This back-and-forth in the budget cap is hurting us.”
She called for urgent legislation to guarantee the provision of free sanitary products in schools, hospitals, and churches, and proposed that NGAAF be restructured into a model similar to the NG-CDF, which is protected by law.
Tana River Woman Representative Amina Abdullahi Dika painted an even bleaker picture, revealing that not a single shilling had been disbursed for sanitary towels in the current financial year, which ends in June.
“Everyone out here believes women reps are providing sanitary towels—but we haven’t received even a coin,” she said.
The impact goes beyond sanitary products. Funding for programmes combating female genital mutilation (FGM)—a widespread practice in counties like Narok, Samburu, and Migori—has been cut from Sh216.92 million to Sh186 million.
PS Wang’ombe attributed the shortfall to unavoidable expenses like salaries and rent, but women’s leaders argue that the cuts reveal a deeper marginalisation of gender-focused interventions.
Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, who chairs the parliamentary committee that oversees NGAAF, said the budget process had left her unable to effectively defend women MPs on the House floor.
“You make me look very bad when women raise these issues. I’m supposed to be defending them at the budget level,” she told ministry officials. “When it comes to matters related to sanitary towels, engage with us before you make any cuts.”
Stakeholders warn that the squeeze on funding is already being felt on the ground, with gender-based violence prevention campaigns stalling due to inadequate resources—at a time when cases are reportedly on the rise.
“The government cannot afford to be silent on this,” said Passaris. “We need action—not just words—to ensure the dignity, health, and education of our girls are not sacrificed at the altar of budget cuts.”
