Industrialist and media owner Chris Kirubi was a beacon of hope and inspiration to many patients and cancer survivors, having come out four years ago to publicly speak about his battle with the disease.

Kirubi used radio and social media platforms to raise awareness about the disease shortly after he arrived from treatment in the United States in 2018.

Although he had lost a lot of his weight when he first appeared in public, Kirubi never allowed the disease to put him down.

The flamboyant businessman said that he learned big lessons during his fight with the disease particularly while he was hospitalised abroad. 

“One thing I have come to discover is that in the end, you’re alone,” he said.

“Your friends may love you but eventually you have to deal with the sickness personally,” Kirubi said, adding that the condition had given him an opportunity to reflect about choices and life in general.

Reflective perspective

Because of the disease, he said, had come to appreciate the need for quality health care system.

“I was just wondering what we can do to make sure that in a country like Kenya, everybody receives the best health treatment possible… to tell you the truth, if I had been here may be I would long be gone,” he said in one of the interviews.

Kirubi, who has been using his social media accounts to mentor young entrepreneurs, was first diagnosed with cancer in 2017. 

During World Cancer Day in 2019 he wrote: “This #WorldCancerDay, I write from a reflective perspective.

This is very close to my heart and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone battling the dreadful disease.”

“I would like to urge each and every one of you to go for cancer screening sessions and adopt a healthy lifestyle,” he wrote.

“No one is immune and early diagnosis surely saves lives. I would like to ask my government to actively raise awareness to the public on how to reduce cancer risk and accord affordable treatment to those diagnosed with it,” he stated.

Early discovery

And in short video clip, Kirubi appealed to the business community to embrace cancer screening at least once every year.

“I would like to appeal to all our members and investors; you need to go and check you status in the hospitals and clinics. Cancer is not devastating if discovered early.

“We need to make sure that if you have cancer attack it is discovered in the first or second stage because at that time it is possible to cure the disease but do not allow the cancer to get to third or fourth stage because it becomes very difficult.

“I am appealing as one of the victims to make sure that you do not have to undergo a major attack of cancer.

Cancer is a disease that can be taken care of if we go for checkups. I would like you to look at as a reminder that cancer can be cured.

“I want you to believe this by taking care of your body. I believe doctors are available even in the rural areas so just go and tell them to have your blood tested: If you want to defeat cancer, prayers do help but prayers without doing something won’t help,” he added.