Dem Wa Facebook Calls for Free Sanitary Pads in Public Toilets

Dem Wa Facebook has called on the government to make sanitary pads freely available in women’s public toilets to support girls and women who struggle to 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 suggested that sanitary pads could be provided in public washrooms in the same way condoms are available in some public spaces.

She said the initiative would help women who unexpectedly need menstrual products while away from home, while also supporting girls who cannot consistently afford sanitary pads.

Dem Wa Facebook wants pads in public toilets

Dem Wa Facebook said women should also benefit from free sanitary products provided in public facilities.

“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 increased support for menstrual health programmes, particularly in rural areas where some girls continue to experience difficulties accessing sanitary products.

She noted that limited access can force some women and girls to rely on unsuitable alternatives, potentially compromising menstrual hygiene.

Her proposal comes amid broader discussions about menstrual health, affordability and access to sanitary products for women and girls across Kenya.

Dem Wa Facebook recalls painful periods

Dem Wa Facebook has previously spoken about her own experience with unusually painful periods, revealing that the severity of the pain eventually prompted her to seek medical attention.

She recalled experiencing episodes when the pain became so intense that she struggled to move around her home and was unable to carry out her normal activities.

The experience made her question whether the severity of her symptoms could indicate an underlying health problem, as the pain felt different from what she considered normal menstrual discomfort.

Rather than continuing to endure the pain, she visited a health facility to establish what was causing the symptoms.

She was diagnosed with a hormonal imbalance

Following the medical assessment, Dem Wa Facebook said she was informed that she did not have a serious underlying condition but had a hormonal imbalance.

She was subsequently prescribed medication, which she said helped reduce the severity of her period pain.

Her experience has since influenced the way she speaks about women’s health and the challenges faced by women dealing with painful menstruation.

Call for better menstrual health support

At the Endometriosis Warriors event, Dem Wa Facebook joined other entertainers, women and supporters in drawing attention to health challenges affecting women.

The event brought together women living with endometriosis, celebrities, musicians, dancers and other supporters for conversations around the condition and broader issues affecting women’s health.

For Dem Wa Facebook, improving access to sanitary products is part of a wider need to ensure menstrual health support reaches women regardless of their financial circumstances or where they live.