More investment in cancer research is needed if Kenya is to slow the growing number of cancer cases and improve survival rates, Members of Parliament have said. The lawmakers warned that stronger research is needed to guide prevention, early diagnosis and treatment as the country continues to record thousands of new cancer cases every year.
The call was made by the National Assembly Health Committee during a visit to the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K), where members received an update on the country's cancer burden, the institute's work and the progress made in implementing the National Cancer Control Strategy 2023–2027.
The delegation was led by committee chairperson and Seme MP Dr James Nyikal. They were received by NCI-K Chief Executive Officer Dr Elias Melly, Board of Trustees chairperson Dr Timothy Olweny and members of the institute's management team.
During the meeting, the legislators said research remains at the centre of efforts to improve cancer prevention, strengthen screening programmes, support early diagnosis, improve treatment and guide policies that respond to the country's health needs.
“Increased investment in research will be critical to generating evidence that informs cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and policy decisions,” Nyikal said.
He said research is important in helping the country understand changing cancer patterns, improve early diagnosis and develop solutions that respond to local challenges. He added that decisions backed by research would strengthen the fight against cancer and improve care for patients across the country.
The committee also called for increased funding for research institutions and urged closer cooperation between government agencies, universities and healthcare providers to improve cancer prevention, screening and treatment.
The visit was part of the committee's oversight work to assess Kenya's preparedness and ability to respond to the increasing number of cancer cases.
The discussions came as a recent analysis by the National Cancer Institute of Kenya showed that as many as four in every 10 cancer cases in the country can be prevented.
According to the institute, about 47,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Kenya every year. It estimates that nearly 18,800 of those new cases could be avoided through vaccination, regular screening and reducing exposure to risk factors such as tobacco use and harmful alcohol consumption.
The findings were based on an analysis carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
The study found that about 40 per cent of cancer cases across the world are linked to preventable causes, including tobacco use, infections such as the human papillomavirus (HPV), alcohol use, high body mass index and air pollution.
Worldwide, those avoidable risk factors were linked to about 7.1 million new cancer cases reported in 2022.
The WHO and IARC reviewed 30 preventable risk factors and found that tobacco use accounted for the largest share of preventable cancer cases globally. Infection-related cancers and alcohol use followed.
According to the Ministry of Health, about three million Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 use tobacco products, which claim about 9,000 lives every year.
The analysis also showed that lung, stomach and cervical cancers make up nearly half of all preventable cancer cases worldwide.
Figures from the National Cancer Institute of Kenya show that the country records about 5,845 new cervical cancer cases each year, while about 3,591 people die from the disease annually.
Health experts say cervical cancer can largely be prevented through HPV vaccination and regular screening.
The government has launched the National Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan 2026–2030, which aims to reduce deaths through HPV vaccination, expanded screening and timely treatment. The programme is in line with WHO targets to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat.