Mosiria calls for cancer to be declared national emergency after viral video of ailing woman
By Ascah Mwango, January 27, 2026Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, Geoffrey Mosiria, has called for cancer to be declared a national public health emergency following a viral video of a sick woman pleading with Kenyans to stand by her young daughter after her death.
In a statement shared on his Instagram page on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Mosiria expressed concern over the woman’s situation, saying the video was a painful reminder of the silent suffering many families are going through because of cancer.
“This is my opinion. This is a very sad story that I have been tagged in. I do not know where this mama is, but she deserves love, care, and support,” Mosiria said.
Adding;
“If she is within Nairobi, please let me know we can visit and see how best we can help her.”
Mosiria said the woman’s story reflects a wider national crisis, arguing that cancer is pushing many households into poverty due to the high cost of treatment and long-term care.
“This is a strong reminder that cancer should be declared a national public health emergency, and its treatment should be made free and accessible. Cancer is silently destroying families, draining life savings, and pushing many households into poverty,” he said.
He compared the current cancer burden to the HIV crisis in the years before free treatment was introduced, saying the impact is now just as devastating, if not worse, for many families.
“In many cases, it is now becoming even more devastating than HIV once was before free treatment was introduced,” Mosiria noted.
The county official urged the government and all stakeholders to act swiftly and with empathy to protect vulnerable patients and families.
“We must act with urgency, compassion, and responsibility. No Kenyan should suffer or die simply because they cannot afford treatment,” he said.