Public Health and Sanitation minister Beth Mugo left the country last Friday to seek preventive cancer treatment in the United States.
The medical care is meant to hinder recurrence of breast cancer that she was diagnosed with last year.
The minister was accompanied by her personal assistant Rossalind Murimi, and two close relatives.
Mrs Mugo’s physician, Dr Robert Mathenge, told the Nation that the disease was diagnosed at an early stage and that she had since undergone further evaluation.
The heart specialist at the Equatorial Heart and Blood Vessel Clinic confirmed that his patient would be away for several weeks.
“I would, however, appeal to Kenyans, especially the media, to let her have treatment peacefully,” he said.
The ministry’s permanent secretary, Mr Mark Bor, said that the minister’s visit to the US was private and could not comment on the issue.
Sources within his docket alleged that the trip cost the ministry Sh27.5 million, which Mr Bor also refused to comment on.
One of the people who accompanied Mrs Mugo is said to be her bodyguard but police headquarters said that they were not aware of that.
Deputy police spokesman Charles Owino said that so long as the officer had acquired the necessary clearance from the Office of the President, he was free to accompany the minister.
In 2005, MPs reviewed their medical cover to include two spouses and eight children, implying that they could be admitted to any hospital in the world recommended by their doctors.
The government recently opened cancer management centres at Homa Bay and Webuye district hospitals.
The Cancer Prevention and Control Bill, if passed will decentralise cancer treatment facilities further so that Kenyans throughout the country can access proper care.
Source:http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Mugo+flies+out+to+seek+medical+care+in+the+US+/-/1056/1309296/-/6hy5vk/-/index.html
