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"id": 928598,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr",
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"content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I rise to support the Bill. I began the debate and, fortunately, I am a prayerful Kenyan. This morning we have received very disturbing statistics. I just want to highlight some of the statistics, just to demonstrate how bad this situation is. The doctor who presented this to us this morning has these statistics, which I want to read. Mammography, Breast Cancer Stage 3, Kshs3,000; ultrasound, Kshs3,000; biopsy, Kshs15,000; histology, Kshs18,000; CT scan, Kshs16,000; surgery, Kshs80,000; chemotherapy, Kshs160,000; radiotherapy, Kshs100,000; hormonal therapy, Kshs150,000; incidentals and logistics, Kshs100,000. The total is Kshs650,000. Those are the figures available; statistics of how much it costs an ordinary Kenyan. The question is whether ordinary Kenyans in this Republic can afford that. Secondly, we were told this morning that the proposal by Sen. (Dr.) Ali of having 47 cancer centers is good. However, it says that unless the social worker who is in Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Wote, Kathonzweni, Kikumbulyu and other places is trained to detect cancer, they will most likely, in Dr. Odhiambo’s words, treat a person for having worms. The training is important. Therefore, I would propose that training as part and parcel of cancer treatment should be done. Madam Temporary Speaker, I have just seen on Twitter newsfeed that the Cabinet Secretary for Health has now commissioned the National Cancer Institute Board. We were told this morning that the National Cancer Institute has no office, no budget, no place to conduct business and no structure, which is a very sad state of affairs. This matter is extremely urgent, but I am not sure about the priorities of this country., The death of hon. Okoth and hon. (Dr.) Joyce Laboso should tell His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta that we need to take action. I have just been given the statistics about the treatment of hon. Okoth, and it is outstanding. An ordinary Kenyan cannot afford the figures that I have heard. Out of a total population of 50 million Kenyans, the number of new cases is 47,887 and the number of deaths is 32,987. These are breast cancer, cervical cancer, esophagus cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and others. This morning, we were told that from the great counties of Nandi, Uasin Gishu and surrounding areas, there is the problem of the cancer of the esophagus. I am told that in places like Machakos and lower eastern, there are other different cancers. In my own view, I propose to Sen. (Dr.) Ali that an amendment be done to have finances for not only training, that I have mentioned, but also research. We were again told this morning that there are people who are now taking advantage of poor Kenyans to do what they are calling blood biopsy. They are testing cancer using blood which cannot give results for treatment or for purposes of determining cancer diseases. Madam Temporary Speaker, I said it yesterday and I will say it again that although there are cancer management methods of radiotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy, this country ought to do some research. The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) or any other institute of research has let us down. I have on good"
}