Kisumu steps up fight against cancer with state-of-the-art facility

CHRIS MAHANDARA-KNA

Kisumu County has intensified its fight against cancer with a renewed focus on early detection, expanded treatment capacity and strategic global partnerships aimed at reducing late diagnoses and preventable deaths.

The county on Friday unveiled the Chung Jeong-Eun–Nyong’o Cancer Centre, a flagship project under the Africa Smart Cities & Townships Alliance (ASCA), set to position the city as a regional hub for comprehensive cancer care.

The facility will be developed as a public-private partnership (PPP), with global advisory firm KPMG tasked with structuring and packaging the project to attract investment and ensure it meets international standards.

Governor Prof. Anyang' Nyong'o described the unveiling as a historic milestone, saying it marks the realization of a long-standing vision to establish a world-class cancer care system in the county.

He said the project has evolved following extensive consultations with medical experts, leading to the adoption of a dual-centre model designed to expand both access and quality of care. 

Under the plan, a public cancer centre will be established at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to serve the public, while the Chung Jeong-Eun–Nyong’o Cancer Centre will be a specialized PPP facility offering advanced oncology services targeting patients from across the region.

Nyong’o noted that earlier attempts to develop the project independently revealed the complexity involved in setting up a cancer centre of such magnitude, prompting the county to seek international expertise and partnerships to meet global standards.

He said the facility unveiled is envisioned as an integrated system of care that will offer early diagnosis, advanced treatment, palliative care, rehabilitation and patient education, delivered with dignity and compassion.     

It is also expected to serve thousands of patients across the Lake Victoria Basin while doubling as a hub for training, research and innovation, with plans to support the establishment of a future medical school.

The governor further revealed that the county, in collaboration with international partners, is preparing to roll out a pilot blood-based early cancer detection programme, with the Department of Health finalizing technical, regulatory and ethical approvals ahead of implementation.

Sharing his personal experience, Nyong’o recounted how his prostate cancer was detected late after doctors initially hesitated to disclose the diagnosis, forcing him to seek treatment abroad.

He used the experience to urge the public to priorities regular medical check-ups and not rely solely on assumptions about their health.

Jaewon Peter Chun, President of the World Smart Cities Forum, said the Kisumu initiative represents a broader vision to integrate healthcare, technology and urban development under ASCA to build sustainable and inclusive cities.

Chun said a key component of the initiative is the rollout of a large-scale early cancer detection programme targeting people aged between 20 and 60, a demographic he described as critical to family stability and economic productivity.