The national government, in partnership with Kakamega county, will establish a Sh1 billion cancer centre.
The centre will be the first in the region and will serve patients from western and neighbouring countries such as Uganda.
The centre at the Kakamega County Referral Hospital is expected to be operational by the end of next year.
Already, the county government has procured and installed a Sh8 million histology machine for diagonising cancer. The machine has been installed at the 500-bed Kakamega County General Hospital. The hospital already has a palliative care centre for those suffering from cancer.
Governor Wycliffe Oparanya on Saturday said he had met President Uhuru Kenyatta who backed the idea of establishing a cancer centre in Kakamega.
"A few weeks ago, I met the President and discussed the partnership to start the cancer treatment centre. He agreed to have a regional cancer centre in Kakamega. The centre will be fully equipped to test and treat cancer," the county chief said.
Speaking at Mulwanda Primary School in Khwisero subcounty during the funeral service of Mzee Livingstone Nambande who died of cancer, Oparanya said the centre will offer cancer treatment at affordable cost.
Currently, cancer patients have to seek treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret or Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. Some have to travel outside the country for treatment.
The governor said many patients could not afford cancer treatment and the centre would be of great assistance to them.
"The centre will reduce the cost of travelling to India or Nairobi to seek cancer treatment," he said.
A community lobby, Western Community Health Association (Wecohas), has also initiated a Sh2.5billion cancer centre in Kakamega county. The centre is yet to begin.
