MP Njeri Maina Vows to Block CS Mbadi’s Budget Over School Girl Fund Slashing

Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has hit out at Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi over budget cuts that she says are undermining the education and dignity of school-going girls.

Speaking on Friday, January 16, at Kiamaina Primary School in Kirinyaga Central, the lawmaker threatened to petition the National Assembly tohalt the approval of future budgetsthat fail to include funds meant to cater for the needs of school girls.

“This year, we shall not pass the budget unless it includes a clear and intentional allocation for sanitary towels. This cannot be accidental or symbolic. It must be deliberate," said the MP.

"Unfortunately, budget cuts in the last allocation hampered the progress we were making. The whole purpose of affirmative action is to represent critical issues like this at the national level," she added.

She noted that lack of access to critical needs, such as sanitary towels, directly contributed to absenteeism among girls, affecting not only their education but their overall growth and confidence.

"If a girl misses school because of sanitary pads, then how much more will she miss in terms of growth, confidence, and opportunity?” Njeri Maina questioned.

The lawmaker spoke during the flagging-off of a sanitary towel distribution exercise conducted under herTupange Keshoempowerment programme, which targets over 200 Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in Kirinyaga County.

A total of 19,725 girls are set to benefit from 88,900 packets of sanitary towels, equivalent to 1,108 bales, with each bale containing 80 packets.

Launched through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAF), the initiative ensures that every girl receives four packets, aimed at supporting school attendance, hygiene, and dignity.

At the function, the legislator further disbursed Ksh300,000 to each youth group from Kirinyaga to support income-generating ventures, as part of a TVET scholarship programme valued at more than Ksh5.8 million.

On the same note, she also criticised President WilliamRuto's administration for allegedly failing the youth, noting that the current youth are the most informed generation Kenya has ever produced.

"I am aware of the injustices in Kenya. Keep dreaming, still organising, still questioning. That alone makes you powerful. Let me be honest: the problem is not that young people are lazy. The problem is that the system," she stated.

She revealed that she personally defended over 500 youth protesters arrested in June last year, vowing to continue standing with young people across all 47 counties.

"I will continue defending and standing for young people without any discrimination. I keep pushing for spaces where youth voices are heard and resourced. I keep fighting for policies that unlock opportunity, not police ambition," she affirmed.