Senator Hamida calls for urgent action on affordable cancer treatment
By Faith Lagat, August 21, 2025Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana has sounded the alarm over Kenya’s growing cancer burden, calling for urgent reforms to make treatment affordable and accessible to all citizens.
In a statement shared on X on August 21, 2025, the senator said that affordable and accessible cancer treatment is urgent, noting that while cancer cases rise, action is critical.
She has urged the government to intensify interventions. “Affordable and accessible cancer treatment is urgent. As cancer cases rise, action is critical. Every Kenyan deserves care without financial burden,” Kibwana stated.
According to the African Cancer Registry Network, cancer claims more than 27,000 lives in Kenya every year, yet only 12 facilities nationwide are equipped to diagnose and treat the disease.
Promising reforms in cancer care
The senator’s plea comes against the backdrop of recent government efforts to reduce treatment costs. In May of this year, the Ministry of Health, in partnership with Roche East Africa, signed a landmark agreement reducing the cost of breast cancer treatment from Ksh120,000 to Ksh 40,000 per session.
The deal, supported by the Social Health Authority (SHA) and launched by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, allows patients to access services in accredited public, private and faith-based facilities at no additional charge. The partnership also includes enhanced access to medicines, training for health workers and expanded screening programs.
In addition, the government has upgraded the oncology care package, increasing the annual limit to Ksh550,000 per patient. Of this, Ksh400,000 is covered under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), while Ksh150,000 comes from the Enhanced Care Chronic Illness Fund (ECCIF). Daily reimbursements for ICU and HDU care have also been raised from Ksh 4,480 to Ksh 28,000, strengthening critical care support.
Environmental concerns
Even as these reforms take shape, concerns over environmental risks have fueled fresh fears. A parliamentary committee is investigating claims of toxic nuclear waste dumped in northern Kenya since the 1980s.
Garissa Governor Nathif Jama has linked the alleged dumping to a surge in throat cancer cases in the county, which rose from 440 in 2023 to 1,347 in 2024, with 640 cases already reported this year. Legislators led by Wajir South MP Adow Mohammed are pushing for accountability, while former presidential aspirant Cyrus Jirongo is expected to testify on confidential records related to the matter.
Call for accountability
Health CS Duale has also moved to address equipment challenges, including the breakdown of a LINAC radiotherapy machine at Kenyatta National Hospital, assuring a replacement is underway. “This partnership is not only about reducing treatment costs; it’s about saving lives, promoting equity, and reinforcing the integrity of our healthcare system,” he said.
Senator Kibwana’s call adds pressure on the government to translate reforms into tangible relief for families grappling with cancer, offering hope of a more equitable healthcare system.