Where to Get Cancer Treatment in Kenya: Full List of SHA-Accredited Cancer Centres (2026)
A cancer diagnosis is overwhelming enough without also having to figure out where you can actually get treated — and whether your cover will pay for it. In Kenya, the Social Health Authority (SHA), through the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), has expanded cancer coverage significantly compared to the old NHIF system. But coverage only helps if you know which facilities are accredited to use it.
Below is a county-by-county breakdown of SHA-accredited cancer treatment centres in Kenya, what SHIF actually covers, and what to check before you book an appointment.
How SHA Covers Cancer Treatment
Cancer care under SHA is funded across three tiers:
- Primary Healthcare Fund (PHF) — fully government-funded; covers diagnostic tests and some surgical procedures.
- Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) — the main contributory fund; under its enhanced oncology cover, chemotherapy is reimbursed at KSh 5,500 per session and radiotherapy at KSh 3,600 per session.
- Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF) — a top-up fund for high-cost, long-term treatment.
Combined, the overall SHIF cancer coverage limit sits at KSh 400,000, with ECCIF able to add a further KSh 400,000 — bringing total possible cover to KSh 800,000 for eligible patients.
That’s meaningful cover, but it only applies at facilities SHA has accredited for oncology services. Turning up at a non-accredited hospital, even a good one, can mean paying out of pocket.
SHA-Accredited Cancer Treatment Centres by County
Accreditation changes. Facilities join and leave the SHA provider list, and levels of service (screening vs. full chemo/radiotherapy) vary by centre. Always confirm directly with the facility or call SHA’s toll-free line — 0800 720 601 — before booking.
Nairobi County
- The Aga Khan University Hospital
- HCG Cancer Centre
- Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) — national referral hospital, dedicated oncology & cancer care unit, on-site SHA support office
- Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH) — Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre with linear accelerator radiotherapy
- Nairobi Hospital
- Nairobi West Hospital
- Metropolitan Hospital
- Coptic Hospital
- Ladnan Hospital Limited
- Cancer Care International
- Nairobi Radiotherapy and Cancer Centre Limited
- Texas Cancer Centre – Nairobi West
- Nephro Med Limited
- Janice Cholerton Medical & Cancer Centre
- Bloom Dhahabu Limited
- Shabaha Cancer Centre
- HCG CCK Cancer Centre
- MP Shah Hospital – Cancer Care Kenya
Uasin Gishu County
- Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Eldoret — second national referral hospital, home to the Chandaria Cancer and Chronic Diseases Centre
- Eldoret Hospital
- Elgon View Hospital
- Mediheal Hospital & Fertility Centre
- Alexandria Cancer Centre & Palliative Care Hospital
Mombasa County
- H.H. Aga Khan Hospital (Mombasa)
- Pandya Memorial Hospital
- Jocham Hospital
- Mombasa Cancer Centre
Kisumu County
- H.H. Aga Khan Dispensary & Maternity Hospital
- Blue Ridge Medical Ltd – Kisumu
- Fairmont Hospital
- Max Cure Hospitals Limited
- Synergy Clinics Limited
Nakuru County
- Alexandria Cancer Centre and Palliative Hospital Limited
Kiambu County
- A.I.C Kijabe Medical Centre
- Blue Ridge Medical – Thika
Nyeri County
- Consolata Hospital (Nyeri)
- Outspan Hospital
Kisii County
- Nyangena Hospital
- Bosongo Medical Centre
- Oasis Specialist Hospital
- Advanced Cancer Centre Limited
- Kisii Specialist Hospital Ltd
Kajiado County
- Fairfield Medical Centre – Kitengela
- Karen Hospital Ltd
Other Accredited Facilities by County
- Bomet: Tenwek Hospital (Sotik)
- Embu: Embu Children’s Hospital
- Garissa: Medina Diagnostic Limited
- Kakamega: St Gallen Oncology Network
- Kilifi: Tawfiq Hospital
- Kirinyaga: Kerugoya Medical Centre, Kerugoya Fortis Medical and Cancer Centre, Kimathi Medical Service
- Laikipia: Nanyuki Cottage Hospital
- Machakos: Universal Family Health Services, Bloom Healthcare – Machakos
- Meru: Meru Doctors Plaza Limited, P.C.E.A. Chogoria Hospital (Tharaka-Nithi)
- Migori: Sori Lakeside Hospital and Annex (Nyatike)
What These Centres Actually Offer
SHA-accredited cancer facilities are assessed against a set of core service standards, including:
- Early diagnosis — imaging (CT, MRI, ultrasound) and lab-based screening
- Chemotherapy — personalised treatment plans by cancer type
- Radiotherapy — linear accelerator and other radiation therapy, where the facility is equipped for it
- Surgical oncology — tumour removal and related procedures
- Palliative care — supportive care for advanced-stage patients
Not every facility on the list offers all five. Public national referral hospitals (KNH, MTRH, KUTRRH) and dedicated cancer centres (Texas Cancer Centre, Nairobi Radiotherapy and Cancer Centre, Cancer Care International, HCG CCK) are generally the ones equipped for radiotherapy — most others focus on chemotherapy, diagnostics, and early-stage management, referring complex cases onward.
How to Choose a Cancer Treatment Centre
- Confirm accreditation directly. Call the facility or SHA’s toll-free line (0800 720 601) to confirm current SHIF oncology accreditation before booking — lists change.
- Match the facility to your treatment need. If you need radiotherapy specifically, confirm the centre has a linear accelerator on-site rather than just a diagnostic or chemo suite.
- Consider proximity for repeat visits. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are usually delivered over multiple sessions across weeks — a centre close to home (or to where you can stay) matters more than it might for a one-off procedure.
- Ask what SHIF will and won’t cover. Confirm your remaining SHIF/ECCIF limit, and ask the facility’s billing office what portion — if any — you’ll need to pay directly.
The Part That Often Gets Overlooked: Getting There
Cancer treatment is rarely a single appointment — it’s chemotherapy every few weeks, radiotherapy sessions daily for a stretch, follow-ups, scans, pharmacy runs. For patients who use a wheelchair, have limited mobility, or simply find travel exhausting during treatment, the transport between home, the airport, and the hospital can be as draining as the treatment itself.
Accessible Travel Kenya runs a fleet of wheelchair-accessible vehicles — including the Toyota Voxy, Noah, Sienta, Esquire, and a 4×4 Land Cruiser — fitted with ramps, swivel seats, and wheelchair securement, so you can choose the setup that suits your needs for the trip.
For patients with regular appointments, the Tiba Bundle is built specifically for non-emergency medical transfers:
- 4 return trips per month to medical appointments, pharmacy, or medical supply runs, or 1 return trip for worship (church or mosque)
- Vehicles: Toyota Noah, Toyota Voxy, or Nissan Serena
- KES 40,000/month (around 25% savings versus booking each trip individually)
- Ideal for patients, seniors, and anyone with recurring health-related travel needs
Whether it’s a one-off transfer to a treatment centre or a recurring chemotherapy schedule, the team can arrange it — including transfers from Wilson Airport or JKIA for patients travelling to Nairobi for treatment.
📞 +254 724 215 977 📧 bookings@accessibletravel.co.ke 🌐 www.accessibletravel.co.ke
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does SHIF cover for cancer treatment? Under SHIF’s enhanced oncology cover, chemotherapy is reimbursed at KSh 5,500 per session and radiotherapy at KSh 3,600 per session, up to an overall limit of KSh 400,000 — with ECCIF able to add a further KSh 400,000 for eligible patients.
Does Kenyatta National Hospital accept SHA for cancer treatment? Yes. KNH is a national referral hospital with a dedicated oncology and cancer care unit and an on-site SHA registration and claims office.
What if my nearest hospital isn’t on the accredited list? Ask your doctor for a referral to the nearest accredited facility, or call SHA’s toll-free line (0800 720 601) to confirm the closest accredited option for your county.
Do all SHA-accredited cancer centres offer radiotherapy? No. Radiotherapy requires specialised equipment like a linear accelerator, which only a subset of accredited facilities have. Confirm directly with the centre before booking.
This list is compiled from published SHA/NHIF facility data and is provided for informational purposes. Accreditation status can change — always verify directly with the facility or SHA before making treatment decisions.
