Musician Nadia Mukami has publicly criticized nominated senator Karen Nyamu for her insensitive comments regarding the proposed Finance Bill 2024.
The senator’s remarks about increased taxes on menstrual products have sparked outrage among many Kenyans.
Senator Nyamu, who is a mother of three, ignited a firestorm after stating that she doesn’t care if menstrual products are taxed more, as she herself doesn’t use them.
This comment was made during a heated online debate with netizens urging her to oppose the bill.
“Why? Many Chinese companies already manufacture here what we import. At least the labor and raw materials are ours,” Nyamu argued, defending the bill.
She added in another comment, “I use sodo,” when asked by an Instagram user about the affordable and durable Kenyan brand she uses.
Mukami responded fiercely to Nyamu’s remarks, sharing a screenshot of the senator’s comments along with a lengthy post on her own social media.
“So careless comments!!! Sometimes people really need to invest in PR professionals and social media managers to avoid THOSE COMMENTS!” Mukami wrote.
She highlighted the severe issue of period poverty in Kenya, where girls from poor backgrounds often resort to desperate measures to afford sanitary towels each month.
Mukami also criticized the rising prices of pads, noting that while products like condoms are not taxed, menstrual products are, despite menstruation being a natural and unavoidable process.
“Imagine there are girls in the suburbs who reach the level of having sex and then get pads, girls who run away from school on those days of the month! Pads when I was in secondary school were 45 – 55 bob, a pack of 5 is now 80 – 120!
The conversation we should be having is how can we make affordable pads if NOT FREE! There are no free condoms, why not pads???? This was a very careless comment!!!Me!! #rejectfinancebill2024,” Mukami added.
Sanitary towels and the price of diapers have become focal points in the heated discussions around the tax proposals in the Finance Bill 2024.
Mukami’s strong stance and public outcry reflect the broader frustration among Kenyans regarding the proposed financial measures and their impact on everyday life, particularly for women and girls struggling with period poverty.
Related: Karen Nyamu reveals Samidoh is being groomed to join politics
