By Victoria Mwende and Alex Njeru
In the quiet hills of Tharaka Nithi County, an invisible enemy is tightening its grip on families and communities; cancer.
What was once considered a disease of the urban population is now striking rural homes with alarming frequency.
In recent years, residents of this vast county have watched helplessly as cancer claims the lives of their loved ones—often before a proper diagnosis is made.
At the heart of this crisis is 53-year-old Catherine Muthoni, a mother of two from Kiereni, Mugwe Ward. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late 2023 after months of reduced appetite and uncontrolled weight loss. Like many others in the county, she had ignored the symptoms, attributing them to Hpylori.
By the time she reached Kenyatta National Hospital, the cancer had progressed to stage four.
“I had never heard of an imaging test,” Catherine says. “We don’t have such services in our local dispensary. I only went to the hospital when the pain became unbearable.”
Catherine’s story is not unique. Health officials estimate that Tharaka Nithi has seen a 30% increase in cancer-related cases over the past five years, with cervical, prostate, and breast cancer being the most common.
However, the true number may be much higher, due to poor record-keeping and a lack of specialized diagnostic facilities.
According to Dr. Elijah Kameti, the Tharaka Nithi County Director of Health, the rise in cases is linked to late diagnosis, low screening rates, and limited public awareness.
“People don’t go for regular check-ups. By the time they come to us, it is often too late,” he notes.
Some health experts are now questioning whether local environmental factors might be contributing to the surge in cases. There is growing concern about the unregulated use of pesticides in farming, often without protective gear or training.
“We are seeing a disturbing trend of cancers in relatively young patients,” says Dr. Kevin Murimi, an oncologist based in Meru. “We can’t ignore the potential impact of toxins from poor agricultural practices.”
Additionally, the rising consumption of processed foods, alcohol, and tobacco, combined with increasingly sedentary lifestyles, is silently fuelling the crisis.
Behind every statistic is a family in pain. David Gitonga, a widower from Kiereni, lost his 45-year-old wife to colon cancer in 2023. The family sold livestock and land to afford her treatment.
“We tried everything—even traditional herbs. But in the end, we could not save her,” David says. “Cancer has left us broken.”
To combat this growing crisis, health advocates are calling for a multi-pronged approach, including; Mass education campaigns on cancer awareness, early signs, and the importance of screening, county investment in mobile clinics and basic diagnostic tools at rural health centers, stronger regulation of pesticide use and farmer training on safe agricultural practices, partnerships with NGOs and the national government to fund affordable cancer care programs.
As the community mourns lives lost to a disease once thought distant, one truth is clear: the fight against cancer must begin at home—with education, access, and policy action.
“Cancer is no longer a disease of others,” says Dr. Kameti. “It is here with us. And unless we act now, we will continue to bury our future.”
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