Cancer patients across Kenya continue to grapple with severe financial strain as they await the rollout of President William Ruto’s enhanced Social Health Authority (SHA) cancer benefits package, announced last week. For many, the delay is proving life-threatening, forcing families into desperation as treatment costs soar beyond what their current cover can support.
In Eldoret, Joseph Muteru, a resident of Kipkaren, is living what he describes as “borrowed time.” The father has been battling prostate cancer since 2023, but his treatment ground to a halt after his annual SHA cover was exhausted.
“I was told to pay SHA for the entire year. Another person paid for me, I started treatment, went for four months, and then I was told SHA had exhausted the funds,” he said.
Muteru’s condition has deteriorated to the point where doctors now warn that he may lose his manhood within days unless he raises Ksh.100,000 for urgent medication.
“The doctor told me the limit has been reached and I need to pay Ksh.100,000 in cash. These drugs are expensive and it is difficult to raise the money,” he said.
According to Dr. Beck Omollo, Muteru’s treatment options became limited when the required drugs were unavailable due to unpaid SHA funds.
“We really tried, but it was impossible. The drugs were unavailable because SHA could not pay. He had to undergo removal of his testicles to control the testosterone hormone that makes him a man,” Dr. Omollo explained.
Muteru’s family is now emotionally and financially drained, with his wife resigned to the grim reality of his condition.
Not far from his struggle is Caroline Achieng, a businesswoman battling cervical cancer. Like Muteru, she depended entirely on SHA support — until her annual cancer cover was also fully exhausted.
“Kidonda inaniumiza… Naweka flagil kwa chupa ya tomato sauce halafu nafinya huko chini ndio nisikie uchungu. Mimi siombi chakula, naomba diapers na dawa,” she said, describing the painful and undignified home remedies she now relies on to cope.
Dr. Beckie, who treats patients like Caroline in rural areas, says the ground reality is far worse than policymakers appreciate.
“The situation on the ground is very different from what people understand in offices. Many patients in rural areas cannot access the drugs prescribed by the doctor. When they run out, they go home and wait until the year ends before SHA pays again,” she noted.
Across counties, hundreds of cancer patients face the same devastating cycle: treatment begins, the annual limit is reached, medication stops, and the disease progresses dangerously until the next year’s cover kicks in.
Last week, President William Ruto announced a significant increase in the cancer benefits package under SHA, raising it from Ksh.550,000 to Ksh.800,000, effective December 1, 2025.
“SHA will enhance the cancer benefits package… to ensure that patients can access quality, uninterrupted treatment without facing financial hardship,” the President said.
But for patients like Muteru and Caroline, December 2025 feels painfully distant. Every passing day brings worsening symptoms, rising bills, and fading hope.
As they wait, both pray that the improved package — whenever it finally takes effect — will arrive in time to save Muteru’s manhood, restore Caroline’s dignity, and offer relief to thousands of struggling families staring at the harsh reality of cancer care in Kenya.
