By Eddah Waithaka
In a landmark move for cancer care in East Africa, Kenya will now offer local genetic testing for the BRCA gene, a development that slashes costs from Sh80,000 to Sh6,500 and delivers critical results in weeks instead of months.
A consortium of healthcare leaders, including AstraZeneca, the Kenya Society of Haematology & Oncology (KESHO), and The Pathology Network, announced the rollout this week.
The initiative aims to identify patients with hereditary cancer risks early and match them with targeted, life-saving therapies.
“This is a turning point for cancer care in Kenya,” said Dr. Gladwell Kiarie, President of KESHO. “Local testing means we can identify high-risk patients earlier and ensure they receive the right monitoring and treatment from the start.”
BRCA genes help repair damaged DNA. When mutated, they significantly increase a person’s lifetime risk of developing breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.
Until now, Kenyans had to send samples abroad for testing, a process that was prohibitively expensive and caused critical delays.
“With results available in weeks, we can now match patients with therapies that are specifically effective for their genetic profile,” said Dr. Njoki Njiraini, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
She emphasized that this precision is crucial, as patients with BRCA mutations respond better to a specific class of drugs known as PARP inhibitors.
The new, subsidized test cost of Sh6,500 opens the door for countless families with a history of cancer to understand their risk. Experts stress that while only 5-10% of cancers are hereditary, identifying those cases is powerful for prevention.
“For people with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, the lifetime risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer shoots up from 12% to between 50% and 85%,” explained one oncologist at the announcement.
“This is exactly the group we need to identify.”The initiative also strengthens national cancer control efforts.
Dr. Elias Melly, CEO of the National Cancer Institute Kenya, stated the program is part of a broader strategy to embed precision medicine within the country’s healthcare system.
“This initiative is not just about testing; it’s about building a foundation for preventive and personalized cancer care nationwide,” Dr. Melly said.
The local testing will begin at select laboratories, with clinicians at major hospitals like KNH ready to use the results to guide patient care immediately, marking a new era of hope and advanced treatment for Kenyans facing a cancer diagnosis.
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