Nairobi Approves Two Menstrual Health Days Off Monthly for Women Employees

In a landmark move for women’s workplace rights, the Nairobi County Government has approved two paid menstrual health days off per month for female employees, positioning the county as a regional leader in menstrual-friendly work policies.

The decision, approved by the Nairobi County Executive Committee under Governor Johnson Sakaja, applies to women working at City Hall and across county departments, and formally recognises menstrual health as a legitimate workplace and public-health issue.

What the new menstrual leave policy means

Under the approved framework:

• Female staff are entitled to up to two menstrual health days off every month

• The leave is meant to support women experiencing painful or disruptive menstrual symptoms, including cramps, fatigue, migraines, and nausea

• The policy is integrated into the county’s official human-resource guidelines, making it a recognised entitlement rather than a discretionary benefit

County officials say the goal is to improve employee wellbeing, dignity, and productivity, while reducing presenteeism — showing up to work while unwell and unable to perform effectively.

Why this policy matters

Medical experts note that a majority of women experience menstrual pain, with a significant number reporting symptoms severe enough to affect daily functioning and work performance.

Despite this, menstruation has long been treated as a private issue rather than a workplace health concern, forcing many women to work through pain or use sick leave without disclosure.

This policy:

• Acknowledges menstruation as a health reality, not a weakness

• Reduces stigma around menstrual pain in professional spaces

• Sets a precedent for gender-responsive public policy in Africa

Public reaction: praise, questions, and debate

The announcement has sparked widespread conversation across Kenya and beyond.

Supporters describe the move as:

• Progressive and overdue

• A win for women’s health and dignity

• A model other counties and employers should adopt

Critics, however, have raised questions around:

How the policy will be implemented in practice

Whether it could unintentionally reinforce workplace stigma

If similar protections will be extended to women in the private sector

How Nairobi compares globally

Menstrual leave policies exist in different forms in countries such as Japan, South Korea, Zambia, Spain, and Indonesia, though enforcement and uptake vary widely.

Nairobi’s decision places it among a small group of governments globally that have moved to formally integrate menstrual health into employment policy — a step public-health experts say is critical for long-term workforce sustainability.

What happens next

The Nairobi County Government is expected to issue implementation guidelines through departmental HR units, clarifying documentation processes and oversight.

Women’s health advocates are now calling on:

Other Kenyan counties, National government agencies and Private-sector employers to consider adopting similar policies that centre employee health and dignity.