A significant meeting took place on September 5, 2025, at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss a potential game-changing initiative: the establishment of a Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC). This new center, a proposed partnership between the Korean government and Kisumu County, aims to address a critical healthcare gap in the region.
The meeting highlighted the urgent need for a dedicated cancer facility. Kisumu’s First Lady, H.E. Dorothy Nyong’o, pointed out that a staggering 80% of cancer patients in the county are currently referred elsewhere for treatment. This not only burdens families with high costs but also delays and compromises care. A local, comprehensive center would drastically change this, making life-saving services accessible to the lakeside region.
Support for the project was strong and unanimous. The National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K), represented by Mr Joel Owino, and Mr. Elijah Omondi, reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the center meets national standards and contributes vital data to the National Cancer Registry. The Kisumu County Health Department and the leadership of JOOTRH both endorsed the plan, seeing the standalone centre as a crucial expansion of the region’s healthcare capacity. Ms. Wairimu Mwaura from the Africa Cancer Foundation also backed the idea, noting that a consolidated centre would streamline care and improve patient experience.
The most insightful remarks came from Dr. George Rae, the former CEO of JOOTRH, who shared valuable lessons from past attempts to establish a cancer center. He spoke of previous negotiations with various international partners and the challenges that stalled those efforts. Dr. Rae stressed the importance of learning from the past to ensure the new Korean partnership is built on a foundation of strong governance and long-term sustainability.
This project represents a hopeful new chapter for cancer care in Kisumu. By leveraging international collaboration and building on the wisdom of past experiences, the new Comprehensive Cancer Centre has the potential to transform healthcare for thousands of people, bringing quality, affordable treatment closer to home.
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