Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, PS Mary Muthoni, national and county government officials, alongside private partners and other senior officials, present at the meeting to build a more resilient cancer care system in Nairobi on February 23, 2026/MoHKenya has intensified its fight against cancer after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale oversaw the signing of key agreements to strengthen treatment infrastructure and expand oncology services nationwide.
The agreements, signed on Monday, target regional cancer centres in Mombasa, Garissa and Nakuru. They are designed to safeguard the maintenance of critical radiotherapy equipment, including linear accelerators, to ensure patients receive uninterrupted treatment.
Kenya records about 44,000 new cancer cases annually, placing growing pressure on the health system.
“These agreements are about protecting lives and public investment. By guaranteeing preventive maintenance and rapid technical support, we are ensuring patients do not face delays due to equipment breakdowns,” Duale said.
The initiative aligns with the government’s Universal Health Coverage agenda and aims to decentralise advanced cancer care. Officials say strengthening regional centres will ease pressure on Nairobi facilities and bring services closer to communities.
The government also reaffirmed its commitment to financing cancer treatment through the Social Health Authority. The oncology benefits package has been increased to Sh800,000 per patient, covering more than 29 million registered Kenyans.
Duale said the move was intended to make cancer care more affordable and accessible.
The agreements bring together national and county governments, alongside private partners, in an effort to build a more resilient cancer care system. Counties have been urged to ensure adequate staffing and a consistent supply of essential consumables.
County representatives welcomed the framework, saying they are ready to support implementation to ensure patients receive consistent and quality care.
With the new measures in place, the government says it aims to reduce service disruptions and strengthen its response to the country’s rising cancer burden.
