In a Facebook post on Monday, when she reflected on the Linda Mwananchi rallies held over the weekend, Wala recounted the physical, emotional and gender-specific realities of campaigning, from jostling through crowds and scrambling for space on podiums to managing menstruation and personal safety while moving with high-speed political convoys.

Her remarks came after taking part in activities surrounding Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's homecoming, one of the opposition's major political events over the weekend.

Looking back on her experiences, Wala said she has so far attended rallies in Mombasa, Nakuru, Vihiga, Kisumu, Machakos, Thika, Trans Nzoia and Bungoma, experiences she says have taught her that politics is a battlefield where newcomers, especially women, must quickly learn to survive.

"I was naive about political rallies," she wrote, recalling arriving at the Tononoka rally in Mombasa wearing a flowing dress before being advised by a friend to change into jeans, a T-shirt and sports shoes.

She went on, "I mean, there should be order. Women should be treated with dignity. Everyone gets a stab at the mic... right? Wrong! Political rallies are about survival for the fittest. They are no respecter of gender, age or ability, especially for new aspirants."

Wala described chaotic campaign scenes where aspiring politicians are lifted onto stages by security personnel, struggle for seats on crowded podiums and are sometimes given just a few seconds to address supporters.

She said she watched newcomer female aspirants over the weekend and sympathised with them, joking that perhaps she should offer a "pre-boarding tutorial" for women entering elective politics.

"You will be roughed up. You will be lifted by strong men. No one will keep a seat for you at the dais. You will climb on top of smouldering hot vehicles to get a good picture shot. You will be given a mic, if you are lucky, for a record five seconds," she wrote.

Among the most talked-about parts of her post was her advice to women on dealing with menses while on the campaign trail.

"If you are expecting your menses, either delay them chemically (there are drugs for this) or just wear diapers. Those rallies are not respecters of your biological functions," she wrote.

She explained that campaign convoys often move at speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour, making it difficult to stop for washroom breaks or change sanitary products.

Wala also advised female aspirants to minimise fluid intake because "there are no toilets as you speed down in the convoy," and urged them to build relationships with security teams, saying they often become an important source of protection during crowded political events.

"Fight for your space," she wrote. "You show a moment of weakness, you get shoved off the dais or your seat. Nobody has time for tears or pity parties."

She also urged women to prioritise their safety, saying there are times when it is better to walk away from the stage if situations become volatile.

The post resonated with several women in politics, drawing responses from leaders who have experienced the campaign trail themselves.

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo pointed to lessons from her own political journey, commenting: "Read my book Rig or be Rigged. One chapter is 'No Manners Please, We are in Politics.'"

Political strategist Pauline Njoroge echoed Wala's sentiments, describing campaigning as demanding but rewarding.

"It's a very steep learning curve. Not for the faint-hearted. Now, if you get pressed, or on your periods, you are even in more trouble. But let me tell you, it's addictive! The excitement, the adrenaline…," she wrote.

Wala is no stranger to taking unconventional paths.

A medical doctor by training, she practised medicine for just six months before transitioning into the corporate world and later entrepreneurship. She is now seeking elective office for the first time as she bids to become Vihiga Woman Representative.

Speaking during a previous episode of Citizen Digital's She Means Business show, Wala opened up about why she chose to contest the Vihiga seat instead of seeking office in Nairobi, saying she wanted to serve her home county despite having spent much of her life away from it.

She also addressed criticism over her inability to fluently speak the local dialect, arguing that leadership should be judged by vision, integrity and service rather than language proficiency.

Watch the full episode of She Means Business, where she speaks in depth about her transition from medicine and business into politics, her Vihiga Woman Representative bid, and the challenges of being a first-time female aspirant.