Karen Nyamu calls for SHA review as Natalie Githinji battles stage 4 endometriosis
By Valerian Khakayi, August 20, 2026Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has called for a review of how the Social Health Authority (SHA) caters for women living with endometriosis, citing concerns over the cost of treatment and limited specialist capacity in Kenya.
Nyamu made the remarks on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, while highlighting the case of media personality Natalie Githinji, who is recovering after being diagnosed with Stage 4 endometriosis and is seeking financial support to facilitate her treatment.
The senator said Githinji’s experience was a reminder of the many women silently battling the condition and the need for a broader national conversation on endometriosis.
Nyamu added that she was committed to taking the conversation further by examining whether SHA adequately covers the actual cost of endometriosis care.
“I’m 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,” Nyamu wrote.
“Today, @nataliegithinji is recovering after being diagnosed with Stage IV endometriosis and is seeking financial support for treatment. Her story is another reminder of the many women silently battling this disease.”
She also called for the collection of national data on the condition, increased specialist capacity, and greater attention to the experiences of women living with endometriosis, adding that she would reach out to Githinji and support her through her treatment journey.
“It’s time we had a national conversation about endometriosis. I will also reach out to Natalie and walk with her through this journey. This is not about politics or PR. I genuinely want to see what we can do, as a country, to bring endometriosis under control,” she added.
Endometriosis advocacy
Nyamu also revisited her advocacy for improved awareness and treatment of the disease, noting that she raised concerns in July 2024 when the Senate honoured the late Jahmby Koikai for her advocacy.
According to Nyamu, Kenya did not have reliable statistics at the time on the number of women living with endometriosis, highlighting a gap in national data that she believes needs to be addressed.
“We lost Jahmby Koikai in June 2024 after a long and painful battle with the disease. On July 9, 2024, when the Senate honoured her advocacy, I raised concerns that Kenya didn’t even have any statistics on how many women are living with endometriosis,” Nyamu stated.
She further recalled that Parliament questioned the Ministry of Health in September 2024 over Kenya’s capacity to treat endometriosis.
Additionally, Nyamu said the ministry’s response showed that although Kenya had about 700 gynaecologists, only five were trained in laparoscopic gynaecological surgery, with most based at Kenyatta hospitals.
“In September 2024, Parliament questioned the Ministry of Health on Kenya’s capacity to treat endometriosis. The ministry’s response shocked me. Kenya has 700 gynaecologists but only 5 are trained laparoscopic gynaecological surgeons, mainly at Kenyatta hospitals,” she recalled.
According to Nyamu, the issue should not be viewed through a political or public relations lens but as a national health concern requiring practical solutions to improve the lives of women affected by endometriosis.