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A manager at the Browns Food Company allegedly rounded up female workers to find out who dumped a used sanitary pad in the wrong bin.
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Three people have been arrested after female employees of a cheese factory in Kenya were forced to undress to check for women who were menstruating.
An official said a manager at the Browns Food Company rounded up the workers to see who had thrown a used sanitary pad into the unallocated trash.
She stripped the women of their clothes after attempts to force them to confess failed.
The company says it has suspended the accused manager from work, pending investigation.
Police in Limuru told local media that three people were facing indecent assault charges.
Senator Gloria Aruba said in a video posted to Facebook that she received a “mayday call” about what happened Monday night.
She explained that one of the principals “found a used sanitary pad in one of the containers, and from what I gather (from information), this rubbish bin was not intended for the disposal of sanitary pads.”
Aruba, who campaigns against period stigma, added that the principal first gathered the women to ask them who was responsible, and when she received no answer, “she needed to know who was on her period so she could punish who threw the pad in that basket.”
She stressed that despite its attempts to intervene in the case, the company was unable to solve the problem with its employees.
Braun said in a statement on its website that it was deeply saddened by what had happened and that the matter “does not reflect the company’s actions as a whole”.
“We are engaging an expert in women’s health to help educate staff, improve communication, and enhance our existing policies and procedures,” the statement said, adding that they are arranging for an independent investigation.
Police told local media that officers “conducted a thorough investigation and recorded the statements of the victims before arresting three suspects.”
They also said that similar incidents occurred at other companies in the region.
“We have reliably gathered that defamation, disparagement and insults have been going on for a long time,” said local police chief Philip Mwana. “I want to warn employers that justice will soon be served for all their victims.”
Activists say menstrual stigma is a major problem in Kenya.
In February, Senator Aruba was ordered to leave the parliament hall because of a blood stain on her pants.
2023-07-06 20:17:35
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