Makueni County Woman Representative Rose Museo (Center) during the launch of a Sanitary distribution Program at Muatini Primary School on May 26, 2026. Photo by Andrew Mbuva. 
By Andrew Mbuva.
Makueni County Woman Representative Rose Museo has raised concern over the increasing cases of femicide, defilement and abduction of school-going children, calling for tougher legal action against perpetrators targeting women and young girls.
Speaking during the launch of a sanitary pads distribution programme at Muatini Primary School yesterday, Museo condemned the brutal killings and sexual violence against girls, saying the trend had become a painful reality that continues to traumatize families across the country.
The programme, sponsored through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), seeks to safeguard the dignity and education of girls by supplying sanitary towels to learners from Grade Four to Grade Nine across Makueni County.
Museo said cases where innocent children are abducted from schools, sexually assaulted and later murdered have become alarming and demanded swift intervention from security agencies and the government.
“We have witnessed innocent children being taken from school, hidden in forests or coffee plantations, defiled and later killed. Parents are left in pain and confusion. Those responsible for such heinous acts must face severe legal punishment,” she said.
The legislator stressed that both girls and boys deserve protection from violence and abuse, adding that society must collectively safeguard children from all forms of cruelty.
She blamed some of the growing violence on toxic family environments where children are exposed to constant domestic conflicts and violence.
“When parents constantly fight before their children, the children grow believing violence is normal in marriage and relationships. Parents have a responsibility to raise children through good examples,” she noted.
Museo urged parents to shield children from domestic disputes, warning that exposure to violence at a young age normalizes abusive behavior later in life.
At the same time, she emphasized the need to strengthen mentorship and support systems for boys, calling on men and community leaders to champion issues affecting the boy child.
“Girls must be protected and empowered, but we must also listen to the struggles affecting boys so that we raise responsible citizens for this country,” she said.
The Woman Representative further highlighted the growing challenge many families face in accessing sanitary towels for school-going girls due to the high cost of living.
She observed that many parents are often forced to choose between buying food and sanitary towels, causing menstrual hygiene products to become a secondary priority despite their importance in keeping girls in school.
Museo revealed that the countywide sanitary towels initiative has so far distributed about 207,000 sanitary pads benefiting 1,237 schools, with every girl from Grade Four to Grade Nine set to receive three packets.
She said the current consignment cost approximately Sh13 million and assured schools that the supply programme would continue uninterrupted to ensure girls do not miss classes because of lack of sanitary towels.
“Teachers struggle when bright girls are forced to stay out of school simply because they lack sanitary towels. We want to ensure every girl learns with dignity,” she said.
She added that women leaders serving in Parliament remain committed to lobbying the government to strengthen sanitary towel supply programmes in schools as part of efforts to support and retain girls in education.
