Declare Triggers of Cancer and Environmental Hazards a National Disaster, Government Urged

By Ken Langat

Kericho county leaders over the weekend urged the goverment to declare triggers of life- threatening diseases like cancer and entire ecosytem a national disaster.

They wanted the governmnet to declare New Year 2026, " A Year of a Big Broom," to mop up all the poisonous chemicals, pesticides related substances that causes cancer dieseases and threaten the fauna and flora.

They expressed a bleak future for this nation if it focuses on treatments only while turning a blind eyes on the factors particularly harzadious chemicals and pesticides that threat lives and endanger environment.

The leaders, led by Kapsoit Wards Member of County Assembly Paul Chirchir Tarimbo, Church leaders led Rev. Charles Mutai of African Inland Church (AIC) Dr. Issac Basuben and Simion Terer (Medic).

"By virtue of the country being cradle of mankind, and now gearing up to First World status beside previlaged to house global headquaters for United Nation, UNEP, the country should be a free zone on globaly banned chemicals and pesticides nor dumping grounds for counterfeit products," Chirchir said.

They pleaded with the government to putting in place punitive measures to curb scrapulous get-rich -quick dealers on such a harmful substances that endangers innocent citizens and environmental harzards.

The leaders observed that the governmnet was spending huge chunk of resources through new Social Health Assuarence (SHA) scheme on treating already affected citizen while causes of the same diesease are awash in the markets.

Chirchir made the remark during a fundraising for Grace Chepkorir battling with stage 4 cancer problem at Kapsoit Ward.

Chepkorir who is Simion Terer sibling is undergoing chemotherapy treatments at Garisa Referal Hospital after a succesfull surgery at MTRH Eldoret.

Chirichir who has declared interest for the county senetorial seat, wanted government to take hasty measures to safe guard its rebutation more so as she inches up to be like Singapore.

"A working nation is a healthy nation and no one would wish to visit, invest nor import products from a country whose data of such diseases on human being, animals and its eviroment was of high prevalence," he forewarned.

He pointed out that the government would be eyed or subjected to constant scrutiny not only on security alerts but on heatlh matters by international communities more so after hosting such global body, being a hub for business investments and a tourists top stop over.

"No where to hide. this country would on a radar 24/7 by its trading partners who import our agricultural productions and manpower services hence conserted effort are needed to educate the nation on pros and cons over such chemicals," Chirchir asserted.

"The only way out the governmment would woo investors and get elavated into first world status is to enact strigent and punitive legislations that curb manufacturers and dealers of these chemicals and pesticide awash in the market," Chirchir asserted.

Rev Mutai lamented that the governmnent was drifting back to outdated alcoholic and hard substance consuming nation.

"It is an eye soar to see energetic youths getting drunk as early as 8.00 am in our Trading Centers and big Towns. Both national and county governments should safe us none of this betrayals by putting in place strigent legislations to open Bars and Clubs to save this nation from such vices," Rev Mutai lamented.

He called upon the government to support churches' spirited efforts to fight alcoholisms and hard substance consuptions amongst youths nothing to be the root cause of sickness and evils in the societies.

"This is a hightime the government should support the churches in fighting against vices that triggers cancer and other immorality in the society. It defy logic while church orgnizations campaign's aganist the vices , the government was abating on the other hand. Let us be hornest," Rev Mutai stressed for conserted efforts.

Terer narrated to the point of tears how the government saved her sister through SHA scheme by gathering medication cost upto Shs over Shs.600,000 and now progressing well.

"We should have sold our land to raise costly medical fees had it not for the SHA medical program. I thank the government and urged everyone to register enmass to the schemes." he said.

Terer who is contesting for Ainamoi Parliamentary seat comes 2027 general elections appealed to Kericho leaders to equip upgraded Hospitals with medical equipments to gather for cancer related cases saying traveling miles was not only endangering lives but costly to the families.

Dr Basuben on the other hand hit at those opposing United States of America (USA) medical grants to the government as a bunch cartels who used to fleece the defunct National Health Insuarence Funds (NHIF)," he pointed out.

Dr Basuben who is warning up to take over from Chirchir, Kapsoit Wards sitting Member of County Assembly (MCA) disclosed that opposion and cartels were rushing to Court to stop USA donor grands in an attempt to ensure Health Secture fails a head of 2027 general election describing them as socio- economic saboteurs.

He urged the government to reciprocate the USA gesture to support health sector by putting place strong legislations spearhead by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei on dangerous pesticides sold in our markets.

Dr Basuben shored praise Shollei for her relentless effort to campaign against about 267 pesticides which had been banned in Europe and USA but still found in Kenya market despite identified to cause cancer problems.

"On August 6 2024 Shollei highligted about these banned substances at the floor of the House and despite all her efforts no action seem to take place basing on cancers cases which seemed to strike every house hold. This is crisis and government must show action to safe innocent citizens," he lamented.