Citizen TV’s Jeff Koinange hosted Bianca Wambui, a 13-year old girl suffering from breast cancer, during his JKL show. The one-hour show airs on Wednesdays. During the interview, Bianca revealed that due to lack of money, she had a mastectomy but no chemotherapy. She emotionally narrated her experiences in school.
“I just stay at home… I would like to get well and go back to school… I stopped going to school because I can’t go in this condition. My friends at school say they can no longer play with me because I only have one breast. I feel so bad because children at school say I will infect them with cancer when I get close to them.”
“I will survive because God has been with me on my journey.”
Bianca’s family had set up a Paybill number (918675) with the account name Bianca Wambui to raise money. At the beginning of the show, they only had 12,000 Kenyan Shillings (roughly $120) in the account. It is during the show that Jeff Koinange urged Kenyans to contribute. Twenty minutes after that, the figure rose to Ksh. 503,500.
The support on Twitter was huge. One tweeter, Mbuku Michael, said: “I can’t watch Bianca cry.. Too young sister to understand stigma.. Indeed cancer is a great challenge in the present society.. Govt needs to put in place measures to diagnose early cancer Lets help this young sister please.”
After one hour, Jeff Koinange announced that the amount had risen to over 2.4 million.
“Thank You KENYA!! …Thank You for standing with BIANCA WAMBUI. We have raised Ksh 2,442,500 in 1 Hour!!…Thank You FOLKS!! Let’s keep CONTRIBUTING!!”
Kenyans then shared their joy and encouraged one another to keep up with the spirit after raising that impressive amount in such a short time.
Japheth
“The love we Kenyans have for each other makes me proud to be a citizen of this great country. In a span of an hour you raised Ksh. 2.4 M for Binca Wambui a cancer patient to seek treatment. God is great Special thanks to @KoinangeJeff & @citizentvkenya”
Kadzo Gunga
“#JKLive Kenyans are the most beautiful human beings. Showing up in support of Bianca Wambui. Surely one day cancer shall die and stop stealing our beautiful ones.!!!”
Josiscky Rani
“Last night’s #JKLive is a true manifestation of the Kenyan spirit. The spirit of impossibilities when united to an action of goodwill. We can also transform the health system for Bianca and other cancer fighters in the country.”
Dennis Itumbi, who works in the Office of the President of Kenya, offered to add Bianca as his dependent in his NHIF health insurance.
Dennis Itumbi
“Dear @nhifkenya, Let us help Bianca Wambui get treated. I am offering my @StateHouseKenya maintained NHIF cover. Allow me to add Bianca as my dependant tomorrow morning and we can have this young girl treated. Fair enough, NHIF #UHC #JKLive”
Cancer has been such a huge threat to Kenyan lives in recent times. Three Kenyan leaders, Bob Collymore of the number one Telecommunication network in East and Central Africa, Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso and Kibra MP Ken Okoth, died of the ailment in a span of one month.
