For more than two weeks, hundreds of cancer patients seeking life-saving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) have been left stranded following the breakdown of the hospital’s only functioning radiotherapy machine. This crisis has sparked alarm among patients, caregivers, and health advocates, raising urgent questions about the state of cancer care in Kenya’s largest public referral facility.
The Linear Accelerator (LINAC) Elekta radiotherapy machine, the only operational one at the facility, broke down over two weeks ago. With a second machine having been out of service for over six weeks, cancer patients—some suffering from advanced stages—are now caught in a painful wait with no clear answers in sight.
Desperate Patients Turned Away
One of the affected patients, a woman battling stage four cervical cancer, described her despair to journalists after being sent home without treatment.
“I am suffering from stage four cervical cancer, and I have been told to go home and come back on Tuesday because the machine has broken down,” she said, her voice heavy with distress.
Another patient, equally frustrated, recounted how they pleaded with hospital staff to issue a transfer letter to seek treatment at a private facility in Texas Cancer Centre Nairobi.
“I asked them to issue me with a transfer letter since the machine is not working. However, the doctor refused, saying we should return today. They had told us the machine would be working by now, but that’s not the case,” the patient lamented.
These stories highlight the emotional and physical toll on patients whose treatment schedules have been disrupted—a dangerous situation considering cancer treatments like radiotherapy require consistency and timeliness to be effective.
Growing Risk of Cancer Progression
The delay in radiotherapy treatment is putting many patients at increased risk. According to oncologists, cancer is a disease that does not wait. Interruptions in treatment schedules, especially for conditions like cervical, breast, and prostate cancers, can result in tumor progression and reduced chances of recovery.
Patients are now voicing growing fears over the potential worsening of their conditions due to the prolonged delay. Some are considering drastic measures, including trying to access treatment in private facilities, despite the prohibitive costs.
“Every day without treatment is a risk to our lives. We don’t have money for private hospitals, and we depend on Kenyatta,” said another patient.
Kenyatta National Hospital Responds
In response to mounting public pressure, the hospital issued a statement on Tuesday through its Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr. William Sigilai. He acknowledged the breakdown of the LINAC machine and confirmed that oncology services had been disrupted.
“We recognise the critical importance of uninterrupted oncology services, and we immediately activated referral protocols to safeguard patient care,” Sigilai stated.
Despite this assurance, patients continue to report being turned away without clear communication or alternative options. Many have been told to wait for phone calls to inform them when to return to the hospital—leaving them in limbo.
A Systemic Healthcare Challenge
This incident at Kenyatta National Hospital exposes broader systemic challenges in Kenya’s public healthcare system, especially regarding non-communicable diseases like cancer.
Kenya has an estimated 47,000 new cancer cases annually, according to data from the Ministry of Health. Yet, public hospitals remain woefully under-equipped, with only a few radiotherapy machines available in the entire country. KNH, being the national referral hospital, often bears the burden of this shortage, serving patients from all over Kenya and neighboring countries.
Experts have long warned of the consequences of underfunding cancer treatment and infrastructure gaps in public hospitals. Many cancer patients rely on KNH as the only affordable option, as private cancer treatment centers remain inaccessible to the majority due to high costs.
Public Reactions and Calls for Action
The situation has sparked outcry among Kenyans on social media, with many expressing anger and frustration over what they see as negligence in the healthcare system.
“It’s shameful that in 2025, Kenyatta National Hospital can’t keep a single radiotherapy machine running,” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Health advocates are now calling on the Ministry of Health to step in and urgently provide support to KNH. They are demanding the repair or replacement of faulty equipment, and the expansion of cancer treatment capacity across regional hospitals to reduce dependency on Nairobi-based facilities.
What Needs to Be Done
To address this ongoing crisis, several urgent steps must be taken:
- Immediate repair and maintenance of broken radiotherapy machines at KNH.
- Deployment of temporary mobile radiotherapy units or partnerships with private hospitals to accommodate patients.
- Establishment of a long-term maintenance program to prevent future machine breakdowns.
- Expansion of oncology services in regional and county hospitals to ease pressure on KNH.
- Transparent communication with patients, ensuring they are not left in the dark regarding their treatment schedules.
A Nation’s Health on the Line
As of now, the fate of hundreds of cancer patients remains uncertain. For them, every passing day without treatment is a step closer to a potential medical crisis. The breakdown of the radiotherapy machine at Kenyatta National Hospital is not just a technical failure—it is a life-threatening emergency.
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. The current situation calls for immediate government intervention, transparency from health institutions, and a national commitment to cancer care infrastructure. The lives of Kenyans battling cancer depend on it.