Stephen Irungu, Menstrual Hygiene Management Ambassador, Huru Internations, speaks to Health Club Members and Ngunyumu Primary School in the Korogocho informal settlement of Nairobi. [Courtesy, UNICEF]
In many Kenyan communities, menstruation remains a deeply private subject, often discussed in whispers and surrounded by stigma and shame. Conversations about menstrual health are largely confined to girls and women.
However, in the heart of Nairobi’s informal settlements, The Standard met Steve Irungu, a man determined to change that narrative.
Irungu, a menstrual health champion, was inspired by his experiences growing up in a family of four alongside his sister. He recalls watching her silently endure painful menstrual cramps and discomfort, often with little support or understanding from those around her. “I saw how much she struggled during her periods,” he says. “At the time, I did not fully understand menstruation, but I became curious. I wanted to know why girls suffered in silence and how I could help ease their suffering.”
What began as curiosity gradually evolved into a lifelong mission.
