NAIROBI, Kenya – Comedian and activist Eric Omondi has explained why politicians were restricted from speaking at Natalie Githinji’s Endometriosis Warriors awareness event, a days after Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu was heckled while addressing the crowd at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
Omondi spoke on Monday, September 28, 2026, after the September 27 event generated widespread social media discussion following Nyamu’s appearance and the “Wantam” chants that interrupted her speech.
The comedian said organisers deliberately wanted the event to remain focused on endometriosis and the women living with the condition rather than politics.
According to Omondi, the decision to keep politicians away came after he and the organising team sought financial support from political leaders during preparations for the event.
He said several politicians, including Nairobi women representatives, expressed interest in supporting the initiative but did not follow through with the financial backing he said they had promised.
“Hi Eric, I’ll support,” Omondi recalled politicians telling him, before saying that the promised support did not materialise.
He said the lack of financial support left organisers with outstanding bills after staging the KICC event. Omondi said the second reason for restricting politicians was to protect the purpose of the gathering.
“We are not going to allow the conversation to be overtaken, to be hijacked,” he said.
He maintained that the central issue was endometriosis and that the event was designed to give women living with the condition a platform.
“The conversation is endometriosis,” Omondi added.
Omondi’s comments came after Nyamu attended the event despite the organisers’ position on politicians.
The senator took the stage to address the crowd but faced repeated “Wantam” chants, with sections of the audience interrupting her speech. Nyamu later said she had anticipated the reaction because of Omondi’s involvement in the event and his public criticism of the government.
“I was kind of expecting it because hii event ni ya Eric Omondi and I’ve seen Eric Omondi has been in the forefront kufight government,” Nyamu said after the incident.
She also said she had chosen to attend despite the possibility of being heckled because she wanted to engage women affected by endometriosis and continue pushing the issue in Parliament. Nyamu said she had given notice on September 10 to introduce a motion on endometriosis in the Senate.
Omondi, however, questioned why she attended after the organisers had agreed that politicians would not take part in the programme. He said Nyamu had contacted him before the event through his manager, Dedan, and expressed interest in supporting Natalie.
Omondi said he directed her towards Githinji and acknowledged that she eventually sent Sh100,000 in support. He nevertheless said he informed his team that politicians should not be allowed to address the gathering. Omondi then questioned Nyamu’s decision to attend in person.
“Sitaki kusema Karen Nyamu hafai kuja event, any event, but alikuja kufanya nini?” he asked.
His comments followed Nyamu’s accusation that he deliberately orchestrated the reception she received.
On Monday, Nyamu claimed that Omondi and the event’s master of ceremonies, Antonio, instructed people at the back of the venue to chant when she began speaking.
“I believe Eric Omondi planned what happened when I took the stage. I’m told he and Antonio, the MC, instructed people at the back to chant when I spoke,” Nyamu said.
She also claimed Omondi’s introduction, in which he highlighted their political differences, acted as a cue for the crowd.
The dispute has consequently shifted some attention away from the campaign itself, with social media users debating whether political figures should participate in health and humanitarian events.
Nyamu, for her part, said she did not attend the KICC gathering for political purposes and would continue pursuing the issue through Parliament despite the criticism.
“I’m not here for politics…. I’m sure you know me and you know I don’t care,” she said during the event.
The KICC event came weeks after Githinji underwent surgery following a severe endometriosis flare-up, bringing renewed attention to her long-running advocacy work. The campaign has sought to move the conversation beyond individual experiences and towards greater awareness, support and public understanding of the condition.
The clash with Nyamu has nevertheless become one of the most discussed moments from the event, with both sides offering different accounts of what happened.
