Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has claimed that members of cabinet opposed Kisumu governor Anyang' Nyong'o's plan to deal with cancer when he was Health Minister.
Addressing mourners during the burial ceremony of late Bomet Governor Dr Joyce Laboso on Saturday, Raila said that Nyong'o had identified land to build a cancer facility but met stiff resistance from colleagues.
"When we were in government, Mr President, Professor Anyang' Nyong'o earlier on as minister for health came up with a program to create a centre of excellence, a centre for research and management of diseases like cancer and there was even land that was identified for it. Because of ignorance, it was opposed by other members of the cabinet and it never saw the light of day, " the ODM leader said. (6:11-6:45)
Raila told President Uhuru Kenyatta that the Kisumu governor would not mind sharing details of the plan that never saw the light of day, saying that it would go along way in helping the government combat the scourge of cancer.
His words come amid a raging debate on whether the government is doing enough to deal with the terminal disease that is killing Kenyans by the score.
Kenya has lost three prominent public figures in a span of just two months; Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore, Kibra MP Ken Okoth and Bomet Governor Dr Joyce Laboso.