Opposition leader Raila Amollo Odinga has revealed that the late Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso was in deep pain when he visited her in Nairobi Hospital.
The ODM party leader who was addressing the press at the Lee funeral home, on Monday evening shortly after Laboso’s death said the first time Governor was suffering to an extent that she could not even recognize him.
“When I visited her (Joyce Laboso) 10 days ago in Nairobi Hospital where she was admitted in the ICU, she couldn’t recognise me well. She had completely changed and was in deep pain,” Raila said.
Raila mourned her saying “she was a dedicated public servant.”
“Joyce Laboso’s death is a blow to our devolution system. She was a dedicated public servant and when I visited her in London, I was encouraged she was on the path to full recovery,” he said.
Earlier, Raila had visited Dr Laboso in London where she first sought medical care before seeking further treatment in India.
Odinga further called on the Government to expedite the construction of oncology centres to help in early detection of the killer disease.
Governor Laboso, 58, died on Monday afternoon at the Nairobi Hospital after a long battle with cancer.
After several weeks in India, Dr Laboso jetted back into the country on July 14, and went to the Nairobi Hospital where she has been receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit.
She spent 27 days at the Royal Marden NHS Foundation Trust hospital in London until her transfer to India in June.
Battling Cancer
In bid to strengthen Kenya’s battle against cancer, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced fresh appointments to the National Cancer Institute board. Among them were the late Bob Collymore, veteran journalist Mercy Oburu and Evangeline Njiru.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 6 (2) of the Cancer Prevention and Control Act (2012), the Cabinet Secretary appoints David Makumi, Mercy Oburu, Bob Collymore and Evangeline Njiru to be members of the Board of the National Cancer Institute,” the notice stated.
The institute coordinates all cancer control activities and is mandated to advise Health Cabinet secretary on priorities that should be accorded to cancer prevention and control in the country.
