Period poverty remains one of the least visible barriers facing girls’ education and dignity in many countries across Africa, something which, for Lennox Omondi, a young Kenyan entrepreneur, became impossible to ignore. His response would grow into Ecobana, a company producing affordable sanitary pads from banana stems, and ultimately earn international recognition after winning the Hult Prize.
Raised in Homa Bay County, rural Kenya, Lennox developed an early interest in storytelling and community life. While at St. Paul’s University, one of the oldest private universities in the East African country, he and fellow students spent weekends visiting neighbourhoods to listen, observe and document everyday challenges. What emerged repeatedly from those conversations was the strain girls faced in managing menstruation without reliable access to products, a problem that translated directly into missed school days and shrinking opportunities.
Period poverty describes the situation in which women and girls cannot obtain adequate menstrual hygiene supplies. Development agencies have long warned that the impact extends far beyond health, affecting attendance, performance and confidence. When learners stay home several days each month, the cumulative effect can shape exam results, completion rates and future income.
After giving it a deep thought, Lennox concluded that charity alone would not close the gap at the speed required. A business model, he believed, could lower costs, guarantee supply and build scale. At the same time, he wanted the solution to address another growing concern in Kenya, plastic waste. That search led him to banana stems, an agricultural byproduct that is widely available and naturally absorbent.
By converting fibre that would otherwise be discarded into sanitary material, Ecobana aligned affordability with environmental responsibility. Community testing helped refine the design, ensuring comfort and reliability while keeping prices within reach of families who often weigh basic necessities against one another.
Turning a prototype into a functioning enterprise required capital and exposure. Encouraged by his university colleague Keylie, who later became the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Lennox entered the Hult Prize competition, a global platform that backs student led ventures with the potential for large scale social impact. Each year thousands apply, but only a small fraction reach the final stage.
In 2022, Ecobana emerged as the winner. The result delivered not only funding, but validation that a locally grounded idea could resonate on an international stage. Organisers described strong support in the room for the Kenyan team, reflecting how closely the mission connected with audiences concerned about equity, health and sustainability.
The months that followed demanded execution. Regulatory approval was secured, distribution networks were developed and manufacturing processes were upgraded. Ecobana’s pads are now sold in stores across Kenya at around 90 shillings per pack of eight, placing them among the most affordable branded options available nationally.
Expansion has continued. In late 2024, the company opened its first factory in south western Kenya in the presence of senior national and international officials, scaling production to roughly 80,000 pads per day. The facility created jobs while reducing reliance on imports, reinforcing how social enterprise can contribute to industrial growth alongside community benefit.
Ecobana’s trajectory mirrors a broader shift in African entrepreneurship, where founders are pairing lived experience with scalable business methods. Rather than waiting for external intervention, innovators are designing products that respond directly to local realities, then building institutions capable of delivering them consistently.
As preparations advance for future editions of the Hult Prize, Ecobana stands as a reference point for what sustained support can achieve after the applause fades. The challenge of period poverty remains significant, but so too is the demonstration that targeted innovation, rooted in community knowledge, can move from idea to solutions, both locally and internationally.
