Departmental Committee on Health Chair James Nyikal during the Budget oversight visit at the National Cancer Institute of Kenya in Nairobi on July 9, 2026. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]
At least 80 Kenyans die every day from cancer, while 125 new cases are recorded daily, the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCIK) has said.
NCIK Chief Executive Officer Elias Melly said the growing burden of cancer should serve as a wake-up call to both policymakers and the public.
"Currently in our country, we have 80 patients dying from cancer. I think this should attract the attention of everybody and 120 are being diagnosed with cancer every day," Dr Melly said.
On Thursday, National Assembly Health Committee pledged to push for increased funding for the NCIK, citing the growing burden of cancer in the country and the need to strengthen prevention, treatment, research and palliative care services.
