‘One Nation for Janet’ attracts top artistes

The Nation Media Group on Sunday held a major concert at the Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi to support its TV presenter, Mrs Janet Kanini Ikua, who was last month diagnosed with cancer.

Top gospel and secular music artistes and other performers, among them Daddy Owen, Rufftone, Sauti Sol, and comedian Churchill Ndambuki, took to the stage to raise money to help the presenter pay off her medical bill.

The campaign comes just days after the world marked World Cancer Month, dedicated to raising awareness about cancer prevention and treatment and how to manage the disease.

Mrs Ikua, who was accompanied by her husband, Mr George Ikua, said the money raised from the show should not only be used to pay off her bills but to support other cancer patients, especially children who seek treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital.

She wept as she recounted how overwhelmed she was by the support she had received, moving the crowd that had turned out for the event.

NTV Managing Editor Linus Kaikai also thanked those who supported the campaign.

On Twitter, Kenyans started the hashtag #IStandWithJanet, which was trending by last evening.

Many of them challenged the government to reassess its commitment to cancer treatment and other diseases.

“Let’s fix health system in KE,” said Kinyua Kariithi.

Other tweets urged the government to equip hospitals with cancer machines so that fewer Kenyans would be compelled to travel to India for treatment.

“Why not start an all-inclusive cancer fund stead of jus helpin janet alone (sic)?” asked Haya Sylvester.

LUNG CANCER
Matthew Tajeu tweeted: “Whilst the motive behind #IStandWithJanet is noble, it should be a wake up call to the govt and stakeholders to streamline our health sector.”

Others, however, empathised with Mrs Ikua, hailing her courage.

“I felt tears at how she spoke with courage,” said Cemca Kelvin.

However, some of the commenters were critical of the initiative, with some saying there were many other deserving cases that go unnoticed.

“Stop this charade,” tweeted Lemukol Ng’asike.

Last month, Mrs Ikua had posted on Facebook that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

The cancer, which is in its fourth stage, was diagnosed in India after months of treatment in Nairobi, where doctors were trying to manage deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in the sufferer's body, usually in the legs.

“My case of DVT has turned out to be a symptom of something else, something more,” Mrs Ikua wrote, explaining that the disease had "refused" to respond to the medication she had been put on.

Mrs Ikua is the host of the "N-Soko Property Show" on NTV.