Cancer control advocates have defended Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga after she faced criticism on social media for publicly disclosing that she has lived with cancer for 12 years.
The Kenyan Network of Cancer Organisations (KENCO) said Wanga should be supported rather than criticised for speaking openly about a deeply personal experience.
“Cancer is not merely a medical diagnosis; it affects individuals, families, livelihoods and communities, often bringing significant emotional, social and financial challenges,” KENCO said in a statement.
The organisation said when leaders, survivors and people affected by cancer share their experiences, they help break the silence surrounding the disease, challenge stigma and give hope to others going through similar experiences.
KENCO was responding to an online backlash after Wanga spoke about her cancer journey during the commissioning of the Phoebe Asiyo Oncology Centre at Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital on August 27.
Some Kenyans questioned why the governor chose to reveal her illness at an event involving a major county health project, while others accused her of using her diagnosis to gain political sympathy.
The criticism included calls for evidence of her treatment and claims that the disclosure was politically motivated.
However, KENCO urged the public to focus on the wider significance of Wanga’s experience for Kenyans living with cancer.
“Governor Wanga’s story is a powerful reminder that behind every cancer statistic is a person, a family and a story,” the organisation said.
KENCO also sent a message of support to cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and families who have lost loved ones, saying they should know that they are not alone.
Wanga recalls cancer diagnosis
Wanga said she was diagnosed with cancer when she was a newly elected Member of Parliament.
She recalled the emotional reaction from her family following the diagnosis but said she remained determined to fight the disease.
“I saw my family members, other people crying everywhere, but I didn’t cry because Senator Beth Mugo told me, it is your mind that will kill you, not the cancer,” she said.
The governor said she remained grateful for the treatment she received.
“12 years later, I am here. I am not going anywhere,” she said.
Wanga’s disclosure was not the first time she had spoken publicly about her battle with cancer.
In 2019, while serving as Homa Bay Woman Representative, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. She said at the time that the disease had gone undetected for years.
Her experience has since renewed attention on the importance of early cancer detection and access to treatment.
Early detection remains critical
The National Cancer Institute identifies breast and cervical cancer among the leading cancers affecting Kenyan women.
Available estimates indicate that Kenya records thousands of new breast cancer cases and deaths every year, with survival varying significantly depending on the type of cancer and the stage at which it is detected.
A Kenyan study involving patients with metastatic breast cancer, for instance, found a five-year survival rate of only 10.7 per cent.
The outlook can be substantially better when cancer is detected before it spreads.
Kenya’s cancer treatment guidelines indicate that five-year survival can reach between 95 and 98 per cent for some patients with stage 1A cervical cancer who receive timely and appropriate treatment.
The figures have strengthened calls by cancer advocates for greater investment in screening, early diagnosis and access to treatment closer to where patients live.
Call for better cancer care
KENCO said Wanga’s experience should strengthen efforts to make cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment more accessible to ordinary Kenyans.
“We call upon national and county governments, healthcare institutions, civil society, the private sector, development partners and communities to continue working together to make equitable, affordable and comprehensive cancer care a reality for every Kenyan,” the organisation said.
The Phoebe Asiyo Oncology Centre is part of Homa Bay County’s efforts to bring specialised cancer services closer to residents and reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for treatment.
For cancer advocates, the controversy surrounding Wanga’s disclosure risks distracting from a much larger public-health challenge.
Many Kenyans continue to face delays in discovering they have cancer, while others struggle to access and afford treatment after diagnosis.
Wanga’s story, they argue, should therefore be viewed not simply as a political disclosure, but as an opportunity to confront cancer stigma and renew the focus on early detection, timely treatment and the lived experiences of people affected by the disease.
