Benda Kithaka: Kenyan Woman Wins Global Cancer Award

A Kenyan woman has won a global award for fighting cancer.

Benda Kithaka, Founder and Executive Director of KILELE Health, in Nairobi, Kenya, has been named winner of the  2024 Rachel Pearline Award.

KILELE Health is a Kenyan non-profit organization that promotes cancer prevention and control.

It uses the power of storytelling to harness lived experiences as tools for advocacy.

Benda is celebrated for taking a team of cancer survivors and caregivers to summit Mt. Kenya every September.

This is to highlight the challenges of cancer survivors.

Benda is also an advocate for post-treatment empowerment for survivors.

The award winner thanked her family, and the global advocacy family after winning the coveted award.

She said the award meant so much to her and appreciated everyone for their support.

“My Family in Kenya, and Global Advocacy Colleagues far and wide asanteni for your kind remarks. This Award means much to me, and I may not be able to respond to each one of you directly but know this, You are loved, and appreciated, in equal measure,” she said.

According to the National Cancer Institute, Benda is a trainer, facilitator, and public speaker on advocacy for women’s health.

She has over 25 years of experience in communications, research, and marketing.

Her educational background includes Strathmore Business School – Institute of Healthcare Management in Kenya, and the University of Nairobi Political Science Major.

The Rachel Pearline Award honours Rachel Pearline.

Dr. Pearline was a respected oncology fellow who received the award named in her memory in 2016 following her death at the age of 38, in November 2015, from gastric cancer.