Similarities between Bob Collymore and Ken Okoth's cancer journey

Piece by: Peninah Njoki
Lifestyle

Kenyans are still coming to terms with the death of Kibra member of parliament Ken Okoth after he passed away while in ICU at Nairobi Hospital.

Something worth noting however is the similarities between his life and battle with cancer and that of the late Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore.

One fan, @dmunga_ tweeted, "This year, this month, Kenya has lost two of the most brilliant minds in the political space, and corporate sphere respectively due to cancer."

Adding, "It's time we embraced the serious fight against this disease. Ken Okoth and Bob Collymore were the epitome of good leadership. #RIPKenOkoth."

  1. Both had been misdiagnosed.

For over a year, Ken OKoth presented symptoms of ulcers, at times bacterial infections and that is what he was being treated for.

He was even put on drugs to manage stress. Okoth says that all that time, he was battling abdominal pain and weight loss.

Bob Collymore had also been misdiagnosed of having Vitamin D Deficiency before travelling abroad where he was correctly diagnosed with stage four Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

2. Their cancers were diagnosed at the last stage

Both Bob and ken's cancers diagnosis was done when they had reached stage four.

3. Both their wives stayed with them in hospital through out their treatment.

Both Bob's and Ken's wife travelled with their late husband's for treatment abroad.

They left everything behind to support the men they loved.

4. Both breathed their last surrounded by family.

Despite Bob Collymore having gone to seek treatment abroad he breathed his last in Kenya, a country he had called home for more than a decade.

The same applies for Kibra MP Ken Okoth, despite having travelled to Europe he has passed away at Nairobi Hospital's ICU.

5. Both knew their time was near.

Bob's pals all said he was very prepared for the end. The same for Ken.

Speaking after his diagnosis Ken OKoth confessed that his cancer could not be cured as it was caught at stage four.

“I will be using chemotherapy tablets that I can take every morning. Because my disease was discovered at a very advanced stage. it cannot be cured. It can only be managed,” he says.