NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s largest referral hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), is under fire after its critical Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machine—used for radiotherapy in cancer treatment—suffered a sudden technical breakdown, leaving hundreds of cancer patients in limbo.
In a move to counter the negative coverage, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stepped in Wednesday evening with a public apology.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the breakdown of the LINAC cancer treatment machine at Kenyatta National Hospital,” Duale said in a statement, adding that his Ministry is “fast-tracking the procurement of a replacement.”
But that apology came a little late for patients like 47-year-old Sarah (not her real name), who’s battling stage four cervical cancer. “They told me to just go home and come back on Tuesday. I’m in pain every day,” she told reporters outside the facility.
KNH had earlier issued a press release acknowledging the failure and confirming that the Elekta-branded LINAC machine is officially out of service. The hospital emphasized that it had “immediately activated referral protocols to safeguard patient care.” Still, the move appears to have fallen short of expectations on the ground.
For patients, the breakdown isn’t just a technical issue—it’s a potential death sentence. With cancer cases on the rise and waiting lists already long, any disruption to radiotherapy access is more than an inconvenience. It’s a crisis.
Not all the news is grim, though. KNH confirmed that its Cobalt radiotherapy machine, which had also been out of commission, is now fully functional. According to Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. William Sigilai, “The Cobalt radiotherapy machine has now been fully restored and is operational.”
In the interim, the hospital says the replacement process for the LINAC machine is being fast-tracked through the “appropriate tendering procedures.” But critics are quick to ask: why was there no backup plan in place for such a vital piece of equipment?
In a system already stretched thin, the failure of a single machine has rippled across the oncology unit, disrupting treatment schedules, delaying care, and leaving vulnerable patients in distress.
As of now, the Ministry of Health says it’s all hands on deck. Duale’s office reiterated that restoring full oncology services at KNH is an urgent priority. But for those in treatment limbo, each day lost is a day too many.
This isn’t the first time KNH has faced criticism for equipment breakdowns, but the stakes have never been higher. With the public’s trust on shaky ground and lives literally hanging in the balance, many are watching to see if the government delivers more than just apologies.
Because for Kenya’s cancer patients, the question isn’t just when the machine will be fixed. It’s whether they’ll still be around when it finally is.
