This archive report was first published on 30 July 2019.
Published on July 30, 2019, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko disclosed that more than 60 Kenyan MPs are currently battling cancer.
Speaking at Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi after the death of Bomet Governor Dr Joyce Laboso, Governor Sonko emphasized the need for leaders to strategize on how to deal with the disease.
Kenya has lost two leaders to cancer in less than a week, with Kibra MP Ken Okoth dying last Friday and Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso passing away on Monday.
According to Juja MP Francis Munyua Waititu, who was successfully treated for brain cancer in India, the number of Kenyans suffering from cancer is alarming.
“The situation is serious. We have for example about 63 MPs and thousands of other Kenyans suffering from cancer. We must get out and talk about it boldly,” he said.
Waititu disclosed that he personally spent Sh1.8 million on housing alone during his treatment in India, posing the question of how many Kenyans can afford such expenses.
Statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reveal that 40,000 Kenyans are diagnosed with cancer annually, while at least 15,000 people die of cancer every year.
