This archive report was first published on 11 July 2019.
Shiyenze Khasoha, a Kenyan fashion designer, has been at the center of a cancer scam controversy. In July 2019, two individuals claiming to be her caregivers came forward, alleging that Khasoha had not been diagnosed with ovarian cancer as she previously claimed.
According to the caregivers, Philip Oketch and Joyce Kakya, Khasoha had not undergone the treatments she claimed, including surgery at the Aga Khan, MP Shah, and Karen hospitals. They also alleged that she had not received a biopsy report, which she claimed to have torn when her cancer recurred.
Khasoha has since denied the allegations, terming them a 'circus, untrue and unfortunate.' In a statement, she revealed that she was diagnosed with Epithelial Carcinoma, commonly known as ovarian cancer, in March 2018. She claimed to have undergone various treatments and was awaiting a final PET scan and surgery.
She also disputed the caregivers' claim that her fund drive had raised Sh2 million, stating that it had only raised Sh600,000. Khasoha further accused the caregivers of editing a video clip to fit a narrative and selling their story.
