NAIROBI — Sanju Pal was a high-flyer, a management consultant at the peak of her powers, invited to 10 Downing Street and lauded as an achiever. Yet, in the eyes of her corporate employers, her value evaporated the moment her body faltered. Her sacking, driven by the debilitating agony of endometriosis, and her subsequent legal victory in a London tribunal, casts a harsh spotlight on a global crisis: the systematic punishment of women for chronic health conditions.

Endometriosis affects one in ten women, yet it remains a misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and mistreated condition. Pal's case is a terrifying example of the "corporate blind spot." Despite her track record, her need for surgery and recovery time was viewed not as a medical necessity, but as a performance failure. She was labeled disabled and discarded—a ruthless calculation that stripped her of her career and her dignity.

The High Cost of Pain

The details of her condition—Stage 3 endometrioma with cysts the size of fruits—are agonizing to read. Yet, the greater agony was the psychological trauma of being told she was no longer a "high performer." This narrative is all too familiar to millions of women who suffer in silence, popping painkillers in bathroom stalls to survive the workday, terrified that admitting their pain will mark them as liabilities. Pal's victory is a vindication for every woman who has been gaslighted by an HR department.

The tribunal's ruling is a legal landmark. It establishes that severe endometriosis can be a disability protected by law, forcing employers to make reasonable adjustments rather than reaching for the termination letter. It challenges the corporate world to redesign its rigid structures to accommodate biological realities.

• The Global Resonance: While this ruling happened in London, its echoes are felt in Nairobi and beyond. Kenyan women face the same stigma, often battling a healthcare system that dismisses their pain and a workplace culture that demands uninterrupted output.
• The Shame Cycle: Pal spoke of the "shame" of losing her job. This shame belongs not to her, but to a system that values productivity over humanity. Her courage in fighting back has shattered that cycle, proving that the law can be a shield against discrimination.

A Call to Action

Sanju Pal's story is a wake-up call. It is time to normalize conversations about women's health in the boardroom. Endometriosis is not a weakness; it is a disease. And as this case proves, firing a woman for fighting it is not just immoral—it is illegal.