Rising Cancer Cases Push Demand for Radiotherapy Services

Kenyan health officials are warning that a growing burden of cancer is straining the country’s limited radiotherapy capacity, as more patients require life‑saving treatment. According to a recent WHO and Ministry of Health report, only about 23% of cancer patients in Kenya currently have access to comprehensive treatment — including radiotherapy — despite estimates that 60% of cancer patients will need radiotherapy at some point in their treatment.
The capacity gap is compounded by a shortage of radiotherapy machines. According to data from the National Cancer Institute and IAEA, Kenya currently has just 19 external beam machines, well below the 42 machines needed to meet the country’s cancer burden. This scarcity forces many patients to wait long hours or even travel far distances for treatment.
The pressure has become even more evident at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where the hospital’s linear accelerator (LINAC) recently broke down, leaving hundreds of cancer patients without their scheduled radiotherapy sessions. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is racing to install a second LINAC in Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital, along with a new radiation bunker to expand capacity. Health officials believe that these additions will reduce the treatment queue and improve access for patients in the Rift Valley and beyond.
Still, experts say long-term solutions are needed. The government’s National Cancer Control Strategy (2023–2028) calls for major investment in radiotherapy infrastructure, more trained oncologists and radiation technologists, and expanded capacity in regional cancer centres. Only by scaling up these services can Kenya begin to meet the growing demand and ensure more cancer patients get timely, effective treatment.