Govt races to complete Sh3 Billion Kisii Cancer Centre by year-end

The national government has pledged to complete the long-awaited Sh3 billion Kisii Cancer Centre by the end of the year, signalling renewed urgency in the fight against Kenya’s growing cancer burden.

Speaking during an inspection tour of the facility, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Ouma Oluga said the project is part of a broader national strategy to decentralise cancer care and reduce congestion at major referral hospitals.

Dr Oluga noted that more than 45,000 Kenyans are diagnosed with cancer annually, while over 29,000 die each year. Currently, more than 110,000 patients are undergoing treatment across the country.

“We have a big challenge when it comes to cancer response,” he said. “Cancer is one of the leading causes of premature deaths in Kenya, and treatment is extremely costly, pushing many families into poverty.”

Kenya has only six government-led cancer centres, forcing patients to travel long distances to seek specialised care at facilities such as Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, and Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital.

The Kisii facility is expected to drastically reduce the need for patients from the Gusii region and parts of Western Kenya to travel overnight by bus in search of treatment.

The project, which had stalled for years, resumed late last year following a directive by President William Ruto. Dr Oluga said the Head of State has ordered that the centre be completed on time and within budget to address the high prevalence of cervical, breast, colorectal and oesophageal cancers in the region.

Beyond infrastructure, the government is negotiating lower drug prices under the Social Health Authority to ease the financial burden on families.

According to Dr Oluga, partnerships with pharmaceutical companies such as Roche have reduced the cost of some breast cancer medicines from $120,000 to $38,000. Further talks are ongoing with Pfizer to push prices down even further.

“We want to reduce the cost of cancer medicines by more than 60 percent across the board,” he said, adding that over 140 prostate cancer treatment molecules are under review for price reductions.

Principal Secretary Isaboke, who accompanied Dr Oluga, described the facility as a key pillar of the government’s Universal Health Coverage agenda under President Ruto’s administration.

He said the Kisii Cancer Centre of Excellence will not only provide treatment but also serve as a research and training hub for the wider Western Kenya region.

“There is strict focus on delivery of projects and programs that have been promised to Kenyans,” he said. “This centre must be completed without further delays.”

The inspection visit was also attended by Professor Graham Lord of King’s College London, representing the Kenya-UK Health Alliance. He said the collaboration aims to ensure cancer care delivered in Kisii meets international standards.

“We want the care delivered here to be as good as anywhere in the world,” he said, noting that Kisii County played a central role in conceptualising the Kenya-UK partnership.

Kisii Deputy Governor Elijah Obebo welcomed the renewed commitment, urging the national government to fast-track completion to reduce the financial and health burden on families.

Once operational, the Kisii Cancer Centre is expected to expand access to affordable, high-quality oncology services, ease congestion at referral hospitals and significantly strengthen Kenya’s response to a disease that continues to claim thousands of lives each year.