The silent killer ravaging rural Kenya has finally found a loud voice. Kitui County Assembly Speaker Kevin Katisya has thrown his full weight behind a petition urging President William Ruto to declare cancer a national disaster, terming the disease a "menace" that is decimating families and bankrupting communities.

Katisya’s endorsement comes after he hosted local musician Eric Mutuku Mwinzi, popularly known as Biez Kaviru. The artiste recently completed a grueling 150km walk from Kitui to Nairobi to deliver the petition to the Head of State, a feat of endurance intended to mirror the long, painful journey of cancer patients seeking treatment.

A Walk for Life

The Speaker lauded the musician's initiative as a "powerful call to action" that goes beyond politics."I congratulate Biez on his bold five-day walk," Katisya stated. "Cancer is plaguing our nation, and we can no longer treat it as just another disease."

• Policy Shift: Katisya pledged to mobilize MCAs to formulate county-level laws that prioritize screening and subsidize treatment for the most vulnerable.
• The Reality: In Kitui, as in many counties, the cost of chemotherapy and radiotherapy forces families to sell land and livestock, driving them into intergenerational poverty.

The Legislative Agenda

This push coincides with the resumption of the Kitui County Assembly after the Christmas recess. Katisya used the moment to remind Ward Reps that their legacy will be defined by their impact on the people's welfare, not their rhetoric. "History will judge this house by the quality of our legislative output," he warned.

With the Speaker's backing, the petition gains institutional legitimacy. The ball is now in the court of the national government to respond to the cries of millions who are fighting a battle they cannot win alone. Declaring cancer a national disaster would unlock emergency funds and resources—a lifeline that is long overdue.