Former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo has revealed details of toxic waste dumping in Northeastern Kenya under KANUregime.
In an exclusive talk show with Prof. Patrick Lumumba, Jirongo’s startling revelation exposed the alarming practice of toxic waste dumping which he noted may be the reason behind increased numbers of cancer rates in Northeastern areas of Kenya.
In the interview, Jirongo reveals his secret workings with Jimmy Choge, who was by then Nicholas Biwott’s lawyer and whom he claims gave him the documents detailing toxic waste dumping.
Jirongo further in the interview narrates how he took the documents to Statehouse to confront President Moi about their validity.
“I have information that people in the ministry of energy are cheating Kenyans that they are looking for oil while what they are doing is dumping toxic waste to the people of Northeastern region,” said Jirongo.
Jirongo’s Daring Revelations
Jirongo further stated that when he reported the matter to the President, the whole news was received with a lot of resistance.
He also spoke of oil exploration that KANU regime was hiding under as they massively dumped toxic wastes in Northeastern Kenya adding that individuals at the helm of Ministry of Energy at that time lied to Kenyans,
Jirongo confesses to have been threatened by the President never to expose the discussion that had ensued between them.
“Whatever we have discussed here, if I hear it out there ‘utajua’,” he said. (to mean he will suffer consequences if he discloses the information shared).
In the over one-hour candid talk show, Jirongo cites the areas of Meru region that cancer burden has been most prevalent in.
“If you do a survey of cancer rating today, it is heaviest from Meru side coming, Western and Nyanza regions have low cases because nothing was taking place in that direction,” said Jirongo.
Cancer Burden in Northeastern Region
Oesophageal cancer has emerged as a particularly prevalent health issue in the region, with statistics from Garissa County Referral Hospital highlighting its prominence.
This type of cancer accounts for 33% of cancer cases, followed by hepatocellular carcinoma at 9%.
What’s more alarming is the distribution among age groups, with individuals between 45-64 years and those over 65 years bearing the brunt of the affliction, comprising 36% and 34% of cases, respectively.
The gravity of the situation is further highlighted by Ministry of Health data, which reveals a grim picture of cancer prevalence and mortality across Kenya.
Annually, over 27,000 people succumb to cancer, with more than 42,000 new cases reported.
Prostate, oesophageal, and colon cancers are predominant among men, while breast and cervical cancers afflict women most commonly.
Alarmingly, the burden of cancer continues to rise, with projections indicating 13 million deaths annually worldwide by 2030, with a disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income countries.
In Kenya, cancer ranks as the third leading cause of mortality, signaling a pressing public health crisis.
In addition, recent data from the Ministry of Health points to the urgency of the situation, with 7,502 cases registered between July 2021 and June 2022 across 42 healthcare facilities nationwide.
Shockingly, majority of cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, indicative of inadequate screening and early detection measures.
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