ENAF, Malaysian High Commission Mark Menstrual Hygiene Day with 18th Mobile Science Lab Donation in Kibera

Reported By: Liz Anyango

In Summary 

• ENAF and the Malaysian High Commission yesterday launched the 18th Mobile Science Laboratory at Kibera Primary School while distributing dignity packs to girls during Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations.
• The initiative seeks to strengthen CBC practical STEM learning while tackling period poverty and school absenteeism among girls in underserved communities like Kibera.

Photo session moment  of the Malaysian  High Commission to  kenya with ENAF  CEO Dr. Jennifer Riria with other guests

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The Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), in partnership with the Malaysian High Commission in Kenya, yesterday unveiled its 18th Mobile Science Laboratory at Kibera Primary School in a landmark Menstrual Hygiene Day initiative aimed at advancing STEM education and restoring dignity for girls in underserved communities.

The event, led by ENAF Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jennifer Riria alongside officials from the Malaysian High Commission, also saw the distribution of dignity packs to schoolgirls in an effort to address period poverty, a challenge that continues to affect school attendance and academic performance among girls living in informal settlements.

The mobile laboratory, described as a state-of-the-art facility tailored to support Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) practical learning, marks the second science lab sponsored through the collaboration between ENAF and the Malaysian High Commission. The first was donated to Ngala School for the Deaf in Nakuru County during ENAF’s thanksgiving celebrations.

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Yesterday’s launch painted a picture of hope in Kibera, one of Africa’s largest informal settlements, where many households continue to grapple with unemployment, unstable incomes, food insecurity, and limited access to essential services. In many homes, families are often forced to prioritize basic survival needs such as food, rent, and healthcare, leaving adolescent girls vulnerable when it comes to menstrual hygiene products and quality educational resources.

For many girls in Kibera, missing school during their menstrual cycle has quietly become part of life due to lack of sanitary towels and fear of stigma. The absence from classrooms not only affects academic consistency but also limits participation in practical science lessons that are central to the CBC system. ENAF’s intervention therefore goes beyond a symbolic donation, directly responding to barriers that continue to lock girls out of equal learning opportunities.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, ENAF emphasized that practical STEM learning cannot succeed if girls are still battling dignity-related challenges that keep them away from school. The organization noted that empowering girls through education requires both access to learning infrastructure and support systems that protect their health and confidence.

The foundation revealed that within the current quarter alone, it had distributed 7,678 dignity kits benefiting 3,855 girls across different regions, a move aimed at reducing absenteeism and ensuring girls remain actively engaged in their studies.

The launch of the mobile laboratory now expands ENAF’s educational footprint to 14 counties nationwide, reinforcing the organization’s growing role in bridging educational inequalities through innovation, partnerships, and gender-focused interventions.

As the world marked Menstrual Hygiene Day yesterday, the scenes at Kibera Primary School reflected a broader message that education, dignity, and opportunity must move together if vulnerable communities are to fully benefit from Kenya’s evolving education system.

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Photo Credits: ENAF(X account)