KISUMU, Kenya – Cancer patients across Western Kenya have received a significant boost after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale pledged Sh500 million toward the completion of a state-of-the-art Comprehensive Cancer and Hematology Centre at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu.
The investment, Duale said, reflects the national government’s commitment to expanding access to lifesaving treatment for cancer patients who currently face long waits, high costs, and exhausting travel to facilities in Nairobi or Eldoret.
“This investment represents our deep commitment to saving lives,” Duale said during an official tour of JOOTRH. “We want to ensure patients from Kisumu and surrounding counties no longer have to travel hundreds of kilometres for basic cancer care.”
The announcement was made alongside Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr Ouma Olunga, and JOOTRH CEO Dr Richard Lesiyampe.
A Lifeline for the Lake Region
The new centre, with an estimated cost of Sh1 billion, is poised to become a regional hub for cancer and blood disorder treatment, not only serving Kenya’s Lake Region but also neighbouring East and Central African countries.
Currently, JOOTRH receives referrals from 14 counties in the western corridor. Many patients are forced to travel to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, which handles up to 150 cancer patients daily for radiotherapy, resulting in extended waiting periods and rising treatment abandonment rates.
“We’ve seen patients abandon care due to travel fatigue and financial strain,” said Lesiyampe. “This centre will be a lifeline, particularly for poor and vulnerable families.”
Technology and Early Detection at the Core
In addition to announcing the funding, Duale also commissioned key medical infrastructure at JOOTRH, including a 128-slice CT scanner, a mammogram unit, and a newly installed hospital lift — all part of the ongoing National Equipment Support Programme aimed at upgrading regional referral hospitals.
PS Olunga said the government’s broader strategy is to elevate JOOTRH to a Level 6 national referral hospital, placing it on par with Kenyatta National Hospital.
“This is more than a facility — it’s part of a long-term plan to decentralise specialised health services from urban centres and bring them closer to the people,” he said. “Early detection and access to radiotherapy are key to improving survival outcomes.”
The upcoming centre will feature cutting-edge amenities including radio-nuclear bunkers for high-energy radiotherapy machines, bone marrow transplant units, and modern imaging technologies — reducing the need for expensive overseas treatment.
A Vision of Health Equity
Cancer remains the third leading cause of death in Kenya, claiming around 27,000 lives annually, with over 42,000 new cases reported each year.
The most common cancers include breast and cervical among women, and prostate and esophageal among men.
For decades, access to specialised care has remained uneven, with patients from rural and remote counties bearing the heaviest burden.
“This isn’t just another hospital project,” said Lesiyampe. “It represents dignity, hope, and a second chance for thousands of Kenyans battling cancer.”
With half the required funds now secured, construction is expected to accelerate in the coming months, bringing renewed hope to patients for whom geography has too often determined survival.
