Kenya has no valid national cancer register, Medical Service minister Anyang' Nyong'o said yesterday. He said existing registers, which are only hospitals in Nairobi and Eldoret's Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, are not credible because the data is old.

Nyong'o, however, said his ministry is implementing the Cancer Control Act policy to address the disease. He said the act will address resource allocation for treatment and management and preventative measures through screaming. The minister will set up a cancer institute to run by a board.

Nyong'o was speaking at MTRH after commissioning a Sh400 million cancer and chronic disease management complex. He was accompanied by the PS Mary Ngari and the hospital's chief executive officer John Kibosia, who said the hospital is the second in the country with public oncology radiotherapy unit.

The complex is anticipated to cater for the rising cases of Non-Communicable Diseases including cancers. The centre, which is funded by the USA's Indiana University, will help to alleviate the suffering of the patients in the region. The minister also commissioned a Sh83 million oxygen and gas piping project

The launch of the cancer center at the hospital is expected to boost the war against cancer in the county. It is estimated, about 50 Kenyans die daily from various forms of cancers.

According to Pact Kenya Cancer Assessment in Africa and Asia (2010), about 80,000 cases of Cancer are diagnosed in the country annually.

A report by International Atomic Energy Agency (2010), revealed the Cancer situation in Kenya is complicated by the lack of experts and a large number of new cancer cases being diagnosed annually.