There are many Kenyan men and women who have bravely fought cancer live their lives to the fullest despite the hard circumstances that befall them. They are people we should celebrate each day, be it politicians, every Kenyans, CEO’s you name it. Being the third highest form of morbidity, cancer institutions have been put up both public-private, others through partnerships, and are improving treatment and care for people fighting the disease.
Women, men and children are dying every other day, and it’s time the country prioritized cancer care by implementing policy recommendations as a matter of urgency.
Below are a few politicians who have bravely fought Cancer:
Beth Mugo
In January 2012, veteran politician Beth Mugo announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Ms Mugo went on to state that her cancerous lump had been successfully removed through surgery. Ms Mugo had been diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine medical check-up by her physician, Dr Robert Mathenge.
“The cancerous tumour has been removed through surgery. The remaining treatment is only procedural to prevent any further reoccurrence.” said the Mathenge.
Following her diagnosis, Ms. Mugo was hesitant to go public but eventually made the choice to speak up. “When I went public, I wondered if it was the right thing to do. But it was. Going public about cancer helps reduce the stigma associated with it,” Ms Mugo said in a meeting of 12 first ladies that was held in July 2015.
She revealed that although she had been feeling a lump in her breast, a mammogram test had initially missed it. She then sought a follow-up CT scan that revealed the tumour.
Anyang’ Nyong’o
In July 2010, Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’ o’s first reaction was shocked when he found out that his condition was cancerous. Nyong’o disclosed however that he had been following the rise of his (Prostate-specific Antigen) PSA for some time.
“I was also rather angry because I thought I should have done the biopsy much earlier to reduce the risk of cancer going to its secondary stage. My doctor immediately put me on hormone therapy to stop the spread while awaiting further treatment,” he said.
In 2019, Nyong’o said that he said his ultimate goal is put up a Sh1 billion cancer centre within five years of his administration. Nyong’o says his administration is working closely with development partners to source for funding for the realization of the centre.
Francis Waititu
Juja Member of Parliament Francis Waititu has opened up to journalists about his fight with brain cancer. Waititu recalls how he was tested after pressure from his mother who at the time was undergoing treatment for the same. In March 2018, the Mp came back weeks after being diagnosed with the disease in India. He was diagnosed with stage two brain cancer.
Juja MP Francis Waititu says that about 63 members of the national assembly and the senate are suffering from cancer .
“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.”— MuthuiMkenya 🇰🇪 (@MuthuiMkenya) February 4, 2019
Gladys Wanga
In July 2019, Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga opened up on her struggle with colorectal cancer. She revealed that her stage four cancer went undetected for years.
Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga on Tuesday moved a parliamentary committee after revealing she was suffering from stage four colorectal cancer.
— MuthuiMkenya 🇰🇪 (@MuthuiMkenya) July 3, 2019
Ken Okoth
Also bravely battling stage four Colorectal Cancer is Kibra MP Ken Okoth who has shown tremendous improvement after months of treatment abroad. According to the MP, for over a year, he exhibited symptoms of ulcers and, at times bacterial infections which he was constantly being treated for.
In February 2019, the 41-year-old revealed that his initial diagnosis was that he had a bacterial infection after he showed symptoms of ulcers, abdominal pain and weight loss. Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer and colon cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine).