National Cancer Institute faces staffing crisis amid limited budget

A severe shortage of staff at the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K) has raised alarms, with the National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration, and Agriculture (PIC-SSAA) questioning the Institute’s ability to fulfill its duties in the fight against cancer.

During a meeting at the Parliament Buildings, the committee was briefed on the Auditor-General’s report, which revealed that only 33 of 247 approved staff positions had been filled as of June 2024, leaving a massive 214 vacancies.

The Institute’s Chief Executive Officer Elias Melly acknowledged the shortfall, blaming limited funding from the National Treasury for the lack of progress in filling the vacant positions.

"We agree with the auditor’s observation," the CEO stated.

"The Institute carried out the first phase of recruitment in June 2024. However, due to budgetary constraints in the allocation of personnel emoluments by the National Treasury, we were unable to recruit adequate staff," Melly added.

The Committee, chaired by MP Emmanuel Wangwe, emphasized the importance of adequate staffing to the Institute’s operations.

"In the circumstances, the inadequate staffing levels may have affected the effectiveness of achieving the Institute's principal activities," the report from the Auditor-General said.

The Committee urged the Institute to focus on filling lower-level positions to ensure that essential operations continue without disruption.

Another issue raised during the meeting was the composition of the Institute’s board, which exceeds the recommended size of seven to nine members.

The Committee advised the Institute to consult with the Ministry of Health to address the board's composition in line with established governance frameworks.