Cancer patients, caregivers, and advocates staged protests in Nairobi County on Tuesday, demanding that the Social Health Authority (SHA) provide comprehensive health coverage for cancer patients.
Organised under the Kenyan Network of Cancer Organisations (KENCO), the protestors accused SHA of failing to deliver on promises, despite being operational for a year. According to them, cancer patients continue to face numerous challenges accessing treatment.
Prisca Githuka, KENCO’s Vice Chairperson and a cancer survivor, said patients have suffered more frustrations than benefits from the health insurance system.
“Cancer is a major problem troubling each and every one of us, and an insurance company such as SHA should know that. Some of our members have stopped treatment because SHA is not working,” she said.
KENCO outlined several demands, including a review of the inadequate cancer package, elimination of bureaucratic delays and system failures, reform of the punitive premium model, improved communication, and increased transparency.
The protestors, who came from various counties, gathered outside SHA offices in Nairobi demanding an audience with SHA CEO, Dr Mercy Mwangangi, to present their petitions. However, they were met by Ibrahim Alio, SHA’s Director of Corporate Services, who explained that Dr Mwangangi was unavailable. He assured them he was mandated to handle customer matters.
Alio defended SHA, stating it was operating without fault, and clarified that the cancer package — currently capped at KSh 550,000 — could only be adjusted by the Benefits Advisory Panel.
“SHA is working. Just say that you want the package adjusted. The information we have is that the package is not enough for you. This can only be adjusted through the Benefits Advisory Panel, which has been gazetted by the Health Cabinet Secretary,” he said.
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He added that SHA had already received the patients’ petitions and was working on them.
“I have information that these demands have already been presented to the panel and are being adjusted.”
His comments sparked a strong reaction from protestors, who questioned who had submitted the petitions.
“Call us to the table and let us tell you our problems. We are the ones in pain and we know where the shoe pinches,” said one demonstrator.
One cancer patient shared her experience during a hospital visit in June 2025, claiming SHA treats a husband and wife as a single household, which results in reduced reimbursements. She said that certain treatments were not covered by SHA, forcing her to sell her only piece of land to raise money.
“We are asking SHA to reimburse patients individually, not based on households,” she said.
Mary Nafula, another cancer survivor still undergoing treatment, accused SHA of failing to provide essential medication. She also criticised the insurance authority for demanding upfront annual payments from low-income patients, while those with higher incomes are allowed to pay monthly.
“They are forcing us poor people to pay the total amount for the whole year for a cover that is supposed to be paid monthly,” said Mary. “SHA does not cover aftercare costs either, yet these services are just as important as the treatment itself.”
After the demonstration at SHA offices, the group marched to Afya House to submit their petition to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. However, they were received by his secretary, James Ntabo, who informed them that Duale was attending an official parliamentary meeting. He collected the petition on the Cabinet Secretary’s behalf.
The protestors warned that if their demands are not addressed, they will return to the streets next week.
– By Timon Otieno
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