Kenyans have been urged to embrace regular cancer screening, as a Murang’a man continues an unusual campaign to raise awareness on the disease.
James Irungu had by the time of going to press clocked 65 hours of hugging a tree in Murang’a town in a bid to draw attention to cancer and its impact on families and society. He began the campaign at 9:27 pm on Sunday, January 4, 2026, and is expected to continue until 5.27 pm Thursday, January 8, 2026.
Irungu says the initiative seeks to raise awareness about cancer, highlight its devastating effects to individuals and families and to push the government to declare the disease a national disaster, arguing that this would trigger greater attention and coordinated intervention.
Speaking in Murang’a town, Dr George Obonyo of the Texas Cancer Centre who was among the many Kenyans who have turned up to support the cause, called on Kenyans to prioritize routine cancer screening, noting that early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes.
He commended Irungu’s efforts, describing cancer as a major national burden and one of the leading causes of death in the country. “Cancer is a burden and is now the third leading cause of death in Kenya. We show solidarity because of where we are as a country,” Dr Obonyo said.
He noted that many patients seek medical care when the disease is already advanced. “Most people do not come to health facilities early and the disease is discovered late. In most cases, treatment then becomes palliative,” he added.
Dr. Obonyo emphasized that early diagnosis is critical, noting that some cancers are preventable while others are highly treatable when detected early.
He identified breast cancer as the leading cancer in Kenya, followed by cervical and prostate cancers. Other common cancers include esophageal, colorectal, stomach, leukemia, lymphoma, ovarian and vaginal cancers.
He encouraged Kenyans to take advantage of non-invasive screening methods, saying early checks are simple and accessible. “People can perform self-breast examinations, while prostate cancer can be screened using a blood test. For cervical cancer, we have the Pap smear or the HPV DNA test, which are non-invasive. Colon cancer can be screened through a stool test.” He explained.
He pointed out that cervical cancer is one of the few preventable cancers, thanks to the availability of the HPV vaccine.
Dr Obonyo advised parents to take girls aged between 9 and 14 years for HPV vaccination, noting that the vaccine is free and available in all public health facilities.
He added that cancer risk factors vary, with some linked to age, smoking, lifestyle and genetics among other factors, stressing that routine screening remains one of the most effective tools in reducing cancer-related deaths.
By Purity Mugo
