Dem Wa Facebook calls for free sanitary pads for women nationwide
By Katemarthason Okudo, September 28, 2026Kenyan comedian and social media influencer Dem Wa Facebook has called on the government to make sanitary pads freely available in women’s public toilets to help girls and women who cannot afford menstrual products.
Speaking on Sunday, September 27, 2026, during media personality Natalie Githinji’s Endometriosis Warriors (N.E.W.) awareness event at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Dem Wa Facebook said sanitary products should be made available in the same way condoms are provided in some public spaces.
She argued that the move would help women who find themselves in need of sanitary products while away from home, while also supporting girls who struggle to afford pads.
Dem Wa Facebook wants pads in public toilets
Dem Wa Facebook said women should also benefit from the free products provided in some public washrooms. “When you go to the washrooms, most of the time you find that they have put condoms there, so even us women, we are asking the government to accompany those condoms with pads also, to help women who can’t afford,” she said.
The comedian also called for more support for women’s health programmes, particularly in rural areas where some girls continue to face challenges accessing sanitary products.
She said lack of access can force some girls and women to rely on alternatives that may not be suitable for menstrual hygiene. Her call comes amid wider conversations about menstrual health, access to sanitary products and the experiences of women living with painful periods.
Dem Wa Facebook recalls painful periods
Dem Wa Facebook has previously opened up about her own experience with unusually painful periods, revealing that the severity of the pain eventually pushed her to seek medical attention.
She recalled moments when the pain became so intense that she struggled to move around her house and could barely carry on with her normal activities.
The comedian said the experience made her question whether there was an underlying health problem because the pain felt different from what she considered normal period discomfort.
Rather than continuing to endure it, she decided to visit a health facility to find out what was causing the severe symptoms.
She was diagnosed with a hormonal imbalance
Following the medical check-up, Dem Wa Facebook said she was informed that she did not have a serious underlying condition but had a hormonal imbalance. She was subsequently given medication, which she said helped reduce the severity of her period pain.
Her experience has since shaped the way she speaks about women’s health and the challenges some women face when dealing with menstruation.
Call for better menstrual support
At the Endometriosis Warriors event, Dem Wa Facebook joined other entertainers and women in drawing attention to health challenges affecting women.
The event brought together women living with endometriosis, supporters, celebrities, musicians and dancers for conversations around the condition and women’s health.
For Dem Wa Facebook, improving access to sanitary products is part of a wider need to make menstrual health support available to women regardless of where they live or their financial situation.
Her proposal for free pads in public toilets adds another voice to the conversation around making menstrual products easier to access, particularly for girls and women who may otherwise struggle to afford them.