At least 63 members of the National Assembly and Senate are battling cancer, Juja Member of Parliament Francis Waititu says.
Speaking to the Standard, the MP said the number of Kenyans suffering from the killer disease is alarming and it is time to talk about it boldly.
“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.” he said.
Waititu had been diagnosed with stage two brain cancer and was declared cancer free in March this year after undergoing treatment for several weeks in India.
When he returned, the MP said he was shocked to meet 13 of his colleagues in Parliament seeking treatment for cancer there.
“I met hundreds of cancer patients from Kenya alone. Among them were nine of my fellow MPs and four Senators. The cancer scourge is enormous and we can no longer afford to bury our heads in the sand. We must get out and talk about it,” he said.
Waititu says despite early discovery that he had cancer, he spent Sh8 million on treatment alone in India.
“I resolved that I was not going to let the disease put me down. I had to fight and God gave me strength and courage. It is no longer a secret that many people are suffering in silence from cancer. Nobody wants to talk about it because of the stigma,” said the MP.
Official government health records shows that about 10,000 Kenyans travel abroad every year for cancer treatment.
India, United Kingdom, United States and South Africa are the leading destinations for Kenyans seeking cancer treatment.
Some of popular personalities who have died recently as a result of cancer include the late Migori Senator Ben Oluoch (throat cancer) and the late Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua (cancer of the pancreas).
All these chemicals coming…
All these chemicals coming from india are carcinogens, they make you sick so that you go to india to seek treatment. Ujinga ni mingi sana
A price has to be Paid by…
A price has to be Paid by some of these MPs (for DEFRAUDING the Poor, Sick, Widows, and Orphans). Let the Innocent MPs live and the Guilty MPigs be ILL and die. And if the Guilty ones live: it be because “they have Spent all their ILL-gotten Money & Propedties on their Treatment” like Nicholas Biwott did and died (and William Ruto to follow). In fact Kenya has become a Numb & Sick CORRUPT Walking ZOMBIE due to these MPs’ Insatiable greed for Blatant corruption. Bure kabisa Majority of them aka MPigs.
Cancer is killing thousands…
Cancer is killing thousands from USA,China n Africa.Actually cancer is killing more than HIV/Aids.Cancer is more n more rampant in western world especially from food which r grown very first using technology.Australia skin cancer is rampant because of the sun/heat.Purdue chicken from USA n other factories r grown within 1wk.Cancer is a killer disease N yes if u catch it earlier u can somehow treat it but hainjapotea kabisa.Even I can tell this mpig that his cancer has gone nowhere it will come back with force??But it will add you few days n less years to do what Mwene nyaga have purposed us to do juu most of us all we think is money money riches riches among yr family n don’t give back to the society.Cancer will kill you whether ur in the most country with the best healthcare or not??i have lost 2 freds in USA from cancer yet USA have good healthcare support.
@ Mkenya Halisi, I have to…
@ Mkenya Halisi, I have to agree with you there. The countries with the 12 top cancer come from Europe, oceania,north america and asia. Was surprised to read that Denmark leads the world.Iam sure these figures change often depending on when the study was done.
Sience is solving the hunger problem,by pumping chemicals into produce and reaping buckets of harvests,but on the flip side, man is ingesting these chemicals and ricking havoc…I dont think enough research is being done on the effects of these chemicals.Its like, lets learn,as we go forward.Yes science is making us live longer,but also creating long lasting pain…with the hope of finding acure for that pain.Its a vicious circle.All in all we are headed in the right direction scientifically speaking.
We should remember not too long ago the life expectancy of many africans was about 40…
My understanding is that we can greatly reduce the risk of cancer,by our life-habits. For example smoking and drinking has been associated with cancer.We still smoke and drink like crazy…and these two mentioned products do not add any nutritional value to our bodies…Now the question is, how much should government interfere in our private lives in attempt to keep us safe,since we dont listen?
The other day these Mpigs…
The other day these Mpigs allowed contaminated sugar to be sold to Kenyans by being bribed by $100. What a Shame. Muigai wa Njoroge song is very true. These Mpigs should be making laws that prevent contaminated food to be imported to Kenya and educating people who to eat healthy
@Maxiley very very true…
@Maxiley very very true.Hopefuly I live longer coz I have never smoked or drank hata glass moja in my 38 years on.I doubt that sugar had mercury.I think some pple wanted sugar contracts to b taken away from some few dudes who controls sugar industry imports??
It’s time for these MP’s to…
It’s time for these MP’s to think about using their wealth to improve hospital conditions in the country and invest in research centers for traditional medicine otherwise they might as well keep on writing their wills to foreign hospitals. If the choose to improve Kenyan hospitals,they will not only help themselves and their families but other Kenyans too. For now let them keep donating money to foreign hospitals. God give us leaders not politicians. God help Kenya!!!