This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
Kenya is in the midst of a cancer epidemic, with the recent deaths of high-profile individuals such as Bob Collymore, CEO of Safaricom, Ken Okoth, Kibra MP, and Dr Joyce Laboso, governor of Bomet, sending shockwaves across the country.
Laikipia Woman Representative Catherine Waruguru has called on President Kenyatta to declare cancer a national disaster, and has presented a Bill to Parliament to that effect.
However, experts argue that the focus on cancer overlooks the broader issue of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that are claiming thousands of lives.
According to statistics, 90 Kenyans will succumb to cancer today, with at least three people dying from the disease every hour.
The root causes of the cancer epidemic are complex and multifaceted, including an increasingly impoverished dietary regime, depleted soils, and the use of carcinogenic fertilisers.
While some progress has been made in the policy and regulatory arena, including the crafting of the National Cancer Control Strategy (NCCS) and national cancer screening guidelines, a holistic approach is needed to tackle all NCDs.
This includes preventive measures such as strictly regulating or banning advertising of known carcinogens, such as alcohol, tobacco products, and sugar-sweetened beverages.
