Compiled by Abdullahi Jamaa

A new study in Wajir County has revealed significant gaps in cancer awareness, early diagnosis and access to treatment, with nearly nine in 10 identified cases diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease.

The community-based study, published on 22 October 2026 in Ecancer Medical Science, a UK peer-reviewed, open-access online medical journal, found that 86.7 per cent of identified cancer cases were diagnosed at stages III or IV, when treatment can be more difficult.

Oesophageal cancer accounted for 48.9 per cent of reported malignancies, making it the most common cancer identified in the study. It was particularly prevalent among men aged 61 to 70.

The researchers also reported an 80 per cent mortality rate among the identified cancer cases, although the available findings do not specify the period over which deaths were assessed.

The findings raise concerns about the challenges facing residents of the largely pastoralist county, where specialist healthcare services are limited and patients often have to travel long distances for treatment.

The study surveyed 1,397 households in March 2025 and included interviews with 15 key informants and focus group discussions involving 45 participants.

Of the households surveyed, 45 had at least one confirmed cancer case, representing 3.22 per cent of the sample. A further 12 households reported cancer cases but could not provide medical records to confirm them.

The researchers cautioned that the findings relate to households with confirmed cases, rather than the prevalence of cancer among the entire county population.

Wajir East recorded the highest proportion of households with confirmed cases at 5.58 per cent, followed by Wajir West and Wajir South at 3.43 per cent each.

Tarbaj recorded 3 per cent, while Eldas had 2.16 per cent. Wajir North recorded the lowest proportion at 1.72 per cent.

Low awareness and screening

The study found that public engagement with cancer prevention and early detection was low. Only 6.9 per cent of respondents said they had received cancer prevention education, while 3.1 per cent reported having undergone cancer screening. An overwhelming 97.2 per cent said they had never had routine medical check-ups.

Researchers said limited awareness, stigma, misconceptions and fatalistic beliefs about cancer contributed to delays in seeking medical care.

The findings suggest that some community members may lack sufficient information about cancer symptoms, the importance of early diagnosis and the treatment options available.

The researchers called for cancer education programmes tailored to local social and cultural contexts, alongside targeted risk-reduction measures and improved access to diagnostic services.

Distance and cost hinder treatment

Access to cancer treatment and palliative care emerged as another major challenge. According to the study, patients were often referred to facilities in Nairobi or Garissa, creating financial and logistical difficulties for families already dealing with serious illness.

Some patients were unable to complete treatment because they could not meet the costs or manage the challenges associated with travelling to distant health facilities.

The researchers recommended stronger oncology and palliative care services, alongside investment in healthcare financing, staffing and medical supply chains.

They said improving access to services would be essential to reducing delays and supporting patients throughout the cancer care process.

A gap in county-level data

Wajir does not have a population-based cancer registry, according to the study, limiting the availability of local data for planning prevention, diagnosis and treatment services.

The researchers said the lack of reliable county-level cancer statistics made it difficult to establish the full scale of the disease and allocate resources according to need.

The study was authored by Dr. Mohamed Abdirahman Ahmed, Ibrahim Abdi Mohamed, Mohamed Abdi Salat, Dr. Fatuma Ibrahim Adan and Dr. Job Mapesa, from Wajir County Government, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and Kenya Methodist University.

The authors called for improved cancer awareness, early detection and access to treatment, arguing that health-system investments are needed to address the barriers experienced by underserved pastoralist populations.