Severe menstrual pain is often dismissed as a normal part of being a woman, yet for millions of women it can be a symptom of endometriosis, a chronic condition that can cause debilitating pain, infertility, and other long-term health challenges.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that endometriosis affects about 10 per cent, or 190 million, of women of reproductive age globally.
The condition occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing inflammation and scar tissue.
Its symptoms include severe menstrual pain, heavy bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, bloating, nausea, and infertility. While the exact causes remain unknown, WHO says emerging research has linked endometriosis to immune-system dysregulation and a family history of the condition.
These challenges were brought into focus in Githunguri, Kiambu County, on September 12, when Githunguri Member of Parliament (MP) Gathoni Wamuchomba joined residents and stakeholders in an Endometriosis Walk aimed at raising awareness and advocating for improved medical care.
Wamuchomba said the initiative was intended not only to create awareness but also to support women affected by the condition through medical assistance and support groups.
“My interest is to support the advocacy process in creating legal frameworks that allow patients to access SHA services in every hospital,” she said.
She also welcomed the participation of men and boys in the walk, saying their involvement demonstrated the importance of including the boy child in conversations surrounding women’s health.
The call for wider health insurance coverage comes against the backdrop of concerns raised by female leaders over the high cost and limited availability of specialized endometriosis care.
In 2024, Nominated MP Irene Mayaka raised the matter in Parliament, questioning the scarcity of specialists and treatment centers for endometriosis.
“Having only two public facilities and five trained laparoscopic surgeons specializing in this matter is simply not enough.
This is one of the procedures that is very expensive, with surgeries costing between Sh350,000 to Sh1 million per surgery. If you look at the number of young women suffering from this condition, the government must do much more,” she argued.
This followed the demise of renowned radio presenter Jahmby Koikai in July that year, after a long battle with endometriosis.
Similar sentiments were echoed in August 2026 by Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu, following the diagnosis of media personality Natalie Githinji with stage 4 endometriosis.
Senator Nyamu called for a review of the national medical health coverage for the cost around diagnosis and treatment of the condition.
“I am committed to taking this conversation further. Interrogate whether SHA adequately meets the real cost of endometriosis care, push for national data and specialist capacity, and listen to the women living through it,” she stated.
Meanwhile, public conversations around the condition are becoming more visible, with Kenyan personalities such as Ciru Muriuki, Janet Mbugua, Corazon Kwamboka openly sharing their battle with endometriosis.
Globally, WHO is also developing guidance on endometriosis while supporting research into earlier diagnosis, effective treatment, and models of care, signaling a shift towards treating the condition as a significant public health concern.
By Rose Muthoni and Grace Naishoo
