Nairobi, July 19, 2026 – The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health today paid a familiarization and oversight visit to the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K) headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi, where Members of Parliament received a comprehensive briefing on the state of cancer in Kenya, the Institute’s achievements, and the implementation of the National Cancer Control Strategy 2023–2027.
The Committee, led by its Chairperson, Hon. Dr. James Nyikal, was received by the Chairperson of the NCI-K Board of Trustees, Dr. Timothy Olweny, and the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Elias Melly, alongside members of the Institute’s management team.
During the engagement, the Committee was taken through Kenya’s current cancer burden, highlighting the latest GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates, which indicate 35,865 new cancer cases and 22,888 cancer-related deaths annually. The discussion highlighted the growing need for sustained investments in cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, palliative care, research, and surveillance to address the increasing burden of the disease effectively.
The Committee also received an overview of the Institute’s mandate, key milestones, and the progress made in implementing the five strategic pillars of the National Cancer Control Strategy 2023–2027, which guide Kenya’s response to cancer through prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, palliative care, governance, research, surveillance, and resource mobilization.
Presenting the Institute’s status, Dr. Elias Melly acknowledged the significant progress made despite resource constraints. He noted that NCI-K has continued to coordinate national cancer control programmes, strengthen partnerships, enhance cancer awareness, support county governments, improve cancer surveillance systems, and advance research and policy development.
However, the CEO emphasized that insufficient funding remains the single greatest challenge affecting the full implementation of the National Cancer Control Strategy and the Cancer Prevention and Control Act, 2012.
“While the Institute has achieved remarkable milestones with the limited resources available, adequate and sustainable funding is essential for us to fully implement our statutory mandate and deliver comprehensive cancer control interventions across the country,” Dr. Melly noted.
Members of the Committee commended the Institute for the notable achievements realized despite financial constraints, observing that the progress demonstrates prudent utilization of the resources allocated to NCI-K. They acknowledged the Institute’s growing impact in coordinating the national cancer control agenda and pledged to engage relevant government agencies to address the budgetary challenges affecting its operations.
The Committee further stressed the importance of strengthening cancer research as a key pillar in reducing the country’s cancer burden. Hon. Dr. Robert Pukose, Member of Parliament for Endebess Constituency, emphasized that increased investment in research is critical to generating evidence that informs cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and policy decisions. He called for enhanced funding to enable the Institute to establish and sustain robust cancer research programmes, a position that received unanimous support from the Committee members.
The meeting also explored the management of Regional Cancer Centres across the country. Hon. Pauline Lenguris, Woman Representative for Samburu County, raised the need to strengthen the governance and coordination of these centres and proposed that their management be placed under the National Cancer Institute of Kenya to promote uniform standards, enhance coordination, and improve service delivery nationwide. The Committee noted the proposal for further consideration as part of ongoing discussions on strengthening cancer care systems.
In his remarks, Dr. Timothy Olweny, Chairperson of the NCI-K Board of Trustees, thanked the Parliamentary Health Committee for its continued support and oversight, noting that Parliament plays a critical role in creating an enabling environment for effective cancer control through legislation, policy support, and adequate resource allocation.
The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment between Parliament and the National Cancer Institute of Kenya to strengthen the country’s cancer response through increased investment, strategic partnerships, research, and sustainable financing. The Institute remains committed to working closely with Parliament, the Ministry of Health, county governments, development partners, and other stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the National Cancer Control Strategy and improve cancer outcomes for all Kenyans.
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