Pwani Oil Products Limited, through its Detrex Soap brand, has partnered with the charitable organisation Keeping Girls in School (KGS) to expand access to menstrual hygiene products and education for women inmates in Kenyan prisons. The campaign, launched at Lang’ata Women’s Prison in Nairobi, began in March and will run through to September 2026, with organisers saying at least 1,000 women will receive support.

According to the press release dated April 22, 2026, the programme will distribute “dignity kits” containing sanitary pads, underwear, soap and basic hygiene supplies, including Detrex bathing soap, to women inmates across several facilities. Organisers said the intervention is intended to address persistent shortages of personal care items in prisons, which can leave incarcerated women dependent on irregular donations or family support.

The initiative comes against a broader strain on Kenya’s correctional system. Kenya’s prison population stands at around 58,000 inmates, with women accounting for roughly 13%, according to data cited in the release from the National Council on the Administration of Justice. Based on those figures, the female prison population is estimated at about 8,000.

Overcrowding has also been flagged as a factor that affects sanitation and access to basic supplies. Kenya’s prisons operate at about 161% of official capacity, according to data cited from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, putting pressure on sanitation infrastructure. The press release added that health advocates link inadequate access to soap and menstrual products to elevated risks of reproductive tract infections, urinary tract infections and skin diseases, as well as anxiety, stigma and loss of dignity among inmates.

“We believe access to basic hygiene is fundamental to health and dignity for every Kenyan, including those in correctional facilities. Through Detrex, we are proud to support such practical interventions that restore dignity while advancing public health outcomes in underserved communities,” said Polycarp Nyawuana, RRT Manager Nairobi at Pwani Oil, during the campaign’s launch at Lang’ata Women’s Prison.

KGS said the campaign will combine product distribution with education sessions focused on menstrual health, hygiene practices and reducing stigma around menstruation inside prison communities.

“Menstrual health and hygiene is an urgent but often overlooked need, especially within correctional facilities, where a majority of the women population is underprivileged. It is encouraging to see corporates like Pwani Oil, taking bold steps to bridge the needs gap,” said Wamuyu Kuira, Executive Director at KGS.

While the campaign is framed by the partners as a public health intervention, it also signals continued corporate participation in social programmes amid constrained public resources. The press release said the initiative is supported by Pwani Oil as part of its environmental, social and governance commitments and community outreach programmes.

For Kenya’s business landscape, the partnership illustrates how consumer goods manufacturers are increasingly aligning brand-led programmes with measurable social outcomes, particularly in health and sanitation. It also highlights a growing focus on underserved populations, including incarcerated people, as stakeholders in public health policy outcomes that can affect national healthcare burdens.

Looking ahead, the partners said the campaign will run until September 2026, with distribution of kits and delivery of menstrual health education sessions across targeted prison facilities. The scale-up beyond the 1,000 intended beneficiaries, and whether similar models are adopted by other private sector players, is likely to be shaped by results from the ongoing rollout and the availability of complementary support within the prison health system.