I have ovarian cancer; media is lying – Fashion designer Shiyenze Khasoha

Kenyan fashion designer Shiyenze Khasoha insists she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March 2018 — and that a report broadcast on Kenyan media Wednesday, raising doubts on her condition claims, was erroneous.

The fashion designer in 2018, started a campaign targeting Ksh2 million dubbed “Vaa Shiyenze and Keep Her Alive”.

According to Shiyenze, the money raised in the campaign would go toward footing her cancer treatment costs.

The campaign was designed and fueled by PR guru, Philip Oketch, who has since come out to claim that the fashion designer deceived him into believing she was ailing.

Oketch claims he met Shiyenze in February 2019 through his wife, who is a fashion-lover.

And, another of Shiyenze’s friend, Joyce Kakya, who has known the trendy cloths-maker for six years, also claims Shiyenze lied to Kenyans about her condition.

Kakya told Citizen Television on Wednesday that she and Shiyenze would often arrange hospital visits, but she would renege on their agreement on the appointment day.

“Every time we cornered her, she would say that she had rushed to Kijabe Hospital to seek a second opinion ,” said Kakya.

According to Shiyenze Khasoha, she underwent treatment for her ovarian cancer between September 2018 and June this year. Some of the hospitals listed as her treatment centres are the Aga Khan Hospital and MP Shah Hospital.

However, September 2018 to July 2019 official records obtained from the MP Shah Hospital show that Shiyenze was treated for a different ailment, and not ovarian cancer. Her MP Shah Hospital bills show Shiyenze incurred treatment costs totaling to just over Ksh50, 000.

Shiyenze’s friends, Kakya and Oketch, have reportedly recorded statements at Parklands Police Station, saying they hope detectives would investigate possible fraud by the fashion designer.

After Citizen TV aired the story, Shiyenze shared, on her social media pages, a statement countering allegations in the expose.

“There have been numerous claims on social media and Citizen TV that I may have faked having cancer. The allegations are unfortunate.

“For now, I am advised to concentrate on my treatment. God-willing, I will be able to clarify this whole circus once I conclude with the medical process [sic],” Shiyenze said in her statement released Thursday.

The fashion designer says viral short video clips showing her admitting to faking the cancer claims were “carefully edited to fit a narrative”.

Shiyenze Khasoha further alleges that Kenyans helped her raise Ksh600, 000 for her cancer treatment, and not Ksh2 million as claimed online.