Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced a major expansion of Kenya’s cancer treatment package under the Social Health Authority (SHA), raising the cover from KSh 550,000 to KSh 800,000. The new limit takes effect on December 1, 2025, and is expected to ease the financial burden on thousands of families battling cancer.
Duale made the announcement at the Joyful Women Organisation’s 16th Thanksgiving Ceremony held at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, where he underlined President William Ruto’s directive to strengthen support for patients facing one of the country’s fastest-growing health challenges.
He noted that the Ministry has been working with partners to reduce the cost of cancer treatment, including Roche, whose support has seen the price of the breast cancer drug Herceptin drop from KSh 120,000 to KSh 40,000 per session. Under SHA, the therapy is now fully covered, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for patients at all accredited facilities.
“This is about giving every Kenyan regardless of their income a fair chance at beating cancer,” Duale said, adding that improving access to critical treatment is a central part of the government’s push toward Universal Health Coverage.
This year’s Thanksgiving event, themed Jiunge Nasi – Join Us, brought together women from across the country to celebrate 16 years of the Joyful Women empowerment movement. Duale used the platform to emphasise the role of sustainable health financing in growing the economy, saying a healthy population is essential for national productivity.
He also pointed to ongoing reforms targeting women’s health, including the Linda Jamii scheme, which has already benefited more than 22,000 teenage mothers by supporting maternal and household health needs.
Duale encouraged women to register under SHA joining the more than 27 million Kenyans already enrolled so they can access expanded maternal and newborn services, especially as the government strengthens services in both urban and remote areas.
“Maternal health remains a national priority,” he said. “We want every woman, wherever she lives, to have access to safe pregnancy, safe delivery, and dignified, quality care.”
The ceremony was attended by President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto, and marked a milestone for the Joyful Women movement, which has empowered more than 250,000 women in 44 counties since its founding.
