Natalie Githinji calls for govt action as she recounts 17-year battle with endometriosis
By Valerian Khakayi, September 30, 2026Media personality Natalie Githinji has called for government action to improve endometriosis awareness, diagnosis and treatment in Kenya, saying more needs to be done to prevent women from suffering in silence.
Natalie, who has openly shared her experience living with endometriosis in a candid reflection shared on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, said she needs the public to join her in pushing for change, noting that there is only so much she can do through advocacy.
“With that said, ours is to just push and hope. There is not much I can do other than just boldly and shamelessly speak about it. Hapo pengine sina uwezo, hapo pengine I will need you reading this to push with me until the government does something. That is all we can do…hatuna uwezo ingine. God atusaidie place imebaki,” she said.
The media personality further disclosed that she has suffered for 17 years and wants to use her platform to ensure other women do not go through a similar experience.
“I have suffered for 17 years, and the reason I’m doing this is so that no other girl will have to suffer for that long kwa sababu ya late diagnosis, expensive treatment, ata kukosa kujua shida ni gani, lack of enough facilities and specialists wa kusaidia watu,” Natalie stated.
Women suffering in silence
Natalie further said her advocacy is not only about her personal experience, noting that many women continue to suffer in silence without knowing where to seek help.
“Hii story si about mimi pekee, kuna madem wengi sana wana suffer in silence, hawajui ata waanzie wapi,” she added.
She explained that an event held on September 27 was not simply about creating awareness but also about encouraging conversations around endometriosis.
“27th Sept 06 wasn’t just about creating awareness but also about breaking the silence, and that is why I invited men too,” Natalie said.
She thanked the men who attended the event, researched the condition and asked questions about endometriosis, as well as those who supported the cause from home.
“I invited men because endometriosis also affects the people you live with, the people you love, your friendships, your work, and basically life, yako yote,” she added.
Natalie on endometriosis advocacy
Additionally, the media personality added that she wants conversations about endometriosis to continue beyond moments when someone is experiencing severe pain.
“Sitaki any other woman ateseke kama mimi and worse in silence…ukijiuliza maswali na ukiuliza maswali zenye hupati jibu…and ata uki hope watu wata believe your pain, that hujifanyi,” she added.
She also called for endometriosis to become a regular topic of discussion, particularly in healthcare facilities.
“Staki ati endometriosis ikue conversation tuna have time mtu ana suffer pekee ama time mtu amelemewa, nataka ikue discussion kila siku and especially hosi,” she said.
The media personality recalled what her mother was told about her condition years ago, saying she does not want other women or parents to receive similar advice.
“Staki any woman ama mzazi aambiwe what my mum was told ten years ago ati ‘We mama pea mtoto chakula akinona utaona izo periods zitaacha kumuuma, huyu antaka tu kukula,’” she recounted.
Calls for specialists to speak out
She further acknowledged that there are limits to what she can do alone, saying she needs members of the public to join her in pushing for better support and services.
“With that said, ours is to just push and hope. There is not much I can do other than just boldly and shamelessly speak about it,” she said.
“Hapo pengine sina uwezo, hapo pengine I will need you reading this to push with me until the government does something. That is all we can do. Hatuna uwezo ingine. God atusaidie place imebaki.”
She also appealed to healthcare professionals and anyone with knowledge of endometriosis to speak more openly about the condition.
“Speak about it, specialists and gynaecologists, nurses, surgeons and anyone who has any knowledge about endometriosis; please speak about it itasaidia sana,” Githinji said.
Natalie also thanked those who continued talking about endometriosis after the event and said she hopes to take the awareness campaign to different parts of the country.
“God help me nijaribu (kujaribu) to visit different counties, to create endometriosis awareness. Kila mtu ajue about hii kitu, because most people ata hawajaskia the word “endometriosis”…na ni sad sana because tutaloose so many young women aki.”
“Endometriosis must be heard!” she concluded.
Her call comes amid growing advocacy for better endometriosis care in Kenya, with Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina also pushing for endometriosis treatment to be covered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), citing delayed diagnosis and limited access to specialised care.