Kenya must away of addressing cancer – statistics pointing to a rapid surge – not as a health issue alone but as a national development priority that requires a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi says.

“A holistic approach is important and that all hands must be on deck if all we are to meaningfully address cancer challenges,” he added

Mudavadi called on various ministries including education, agriculture, investment, trade and industry, environment, ICT, national treasury, and more so counties, to break down silos in addressing cancer.

Prime Cabinet Secretary officially opened the 2nd National Cancer Summit, 2025, in Nairobi on Monday. He noted that even as the country responds to the internal challenges of cancer, Kenya is also looking outward, with a view to becoming a regional hub for cancer treatment, training and innovation in Africa.

“We already have critical building blocks in place such as operationalisation of regional cancer centres in Nakuru, Mombasa, Meru, Kisumu and Garissa and scaling up radiotherapy, chemotherapy, nuclear medicine and surgical oncology services,” he said.

He added that the increased expertise in oncology, radiology and oncology nurses trained locally and internationally, plus advancement in cancer research, registries and precision imaging technologies through public and private investments will position Kenya as a regional hub for cancer care.

“We are not merely responding to diseases; we are building the infrastructure, systems and workforce that can anchor medical tourism, regional referrals and clinical trials within Kenya. Our ambition is clear: to serve not just Kenyans, but also our Eastern and Central African neighbours who seek accessible, affordable, and high-quality cancer care,” Mudavadi said .

 Mudavadi, who doubles up as Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, said that his office has prioritised health diplomacy as a cornerstone of external relations and that through bilateral and multilateral partnerships, they are engaging meaningfully with international organisations and cancer control bodies.

“Our collaborations with the World Health Organization (WHO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and numerous UN agencies, regional blocs and philanthropic institutions have resulted in strengthened diagnostic capabilities, technical support, equipment donations, knowledge exchange through capacity buildings and access to global best practices,” Mudavadi said.

The National Government, Prime Cabinet Secretary said, remains firmly committed to expanding the international collaborations in line with the National Cancer Control Strategy and the aspirations of Kenya Vision 2030 and Agenda 2063.

Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale said that cancer is not just a health crisis but is a national emergency since every day, more than 120 Kenyans are diagnosed; every hour, families lose loved ones; and each year, over 29,000 lives are lost.

He noted that the government is committed to saving lives, reducing suffering and building a future where no Kenyan dies from cancer and urged Kenyans to register for the Social Health Authority (SHA).

“To date, the SHA has received oncology claims amounting to Kshh5.8 billion, benefiting 49,315 patients who have accessed various oncology services,” Duale said.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary, however, added that in order to strengthen access, the ministry of health has signed an MoU with Roche to provide Herceptin 600mg SC and other HER2+ therapies to eligible SHA beneficiaries.

“Herceptin, a biologic therapy used to treat HER2-positive breast and gastric cancers, makes up 15–20 per cent of all breast cancer cases and is a critical addition in the fight against cancer,” he explained.

Through this partnership, the Prime Cabinet Secretary said the cost of treatment has been reduced from Ksh120,000 to Ksh40,000 per session, fully covered by SHA with no co-payment. The therapies, he added, will be available across all SHA-contracted facilities – public, private, and faith-based – ensuring equitable nationwide access.

“The ministry encourages other pharmaceutical partners to join in expanding access to affordable, patient-centred, and high-quality cancer care and I want to urge all Kenyans to register and contribute to SHIF. This is your protection; this is your family’s future,” the prime cabinet secretary said.

According to the ministry, over 70 per cent of cancer cases are diagnosed late, mainly due to limited access, stigma, and misinformation, and therefore there is a need to expand diagnostic and radiotherapy services in underserved areas and promote early health-seeking by normalizing cancer conversations.

“Geography must not determine survival. County governments, prioritise cancer in your budgets, ring-fence funding for screening, public education and referral infrastructure, while partners and the private sector invest in localised, affordable cancer care solutions that are scalable and sustainable,” Duale urged.

Dr Elias Melly, CEO of the National Cancer Institute of Kenya, said the country currently records over 44,000 new cases of cancer every year and 28,000 deaths annually.

The theme for the three-day summit is running: Uniting Voices Taking Action, is a call for urgency and solidarity and according to the prime cabinet secretary, it should be a declaration that the time for fragmented efforts is over and that the time to act, collectively and decisively, is now.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / Wangari Ndirangu