Shiyenze denies allegations of faking cancer, conning Kenyans Ksh.2M

Fashion designer Shiyenze Khasoha has now come out to refute reports that she faked having Ovarian cancer and duped Kenyans of millions of shillings.

This comes after two persons claiming to be her caregivers told Citizen TV that she does not suffer ovarian cancer as she had previously alleged.

Shiyenze, who has been cast to the spotlight in recent times, termed the allegations as a “circus”, adding that they are untrue and unfortunate.

“In March 2018 after numerous tests I was diagnosed with Epithelial Carcinoma commonly known as ovarian cancer. For those who are close to I know that I battled the news and the medical care required thereof privately and when funds became a challenge I approached the public for support,” she wrote.

“Through your support and prayers I have undergone various treatments and now await a final PET scan and thereafter surgery.”

She further dismissed reports that her public campaign raised Ksh.2 million, stating that she has so far only received Ksh.600,000.

“As regards to the video clip shown on Citizen TV the same has been carefully edited to fit a narrative, it has been used to fit the context of the persons who are hell bent to sell their story,” she added.

“For now, I am advised to concentrate on my treatment. Which I will. God willing I will be able to clarify this whole circus once I conclude with the medical processes.”

Shiyenze is no new name in the fashion industry as her skill in turning an ordinary piece of clothing into fashionable sense has endeared her to many ordinary Kenyans, celebrities as well as those in power.

Philip Oketch and Joyce Kakya on Wednesday told Citizen TV that they – following Shiyenze’s declaration on social media in 2018 that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer – rallied up other friends to support her treatment.

Oketch, who came to know of Shiyenze in February 2019 through his wife who is also a fashion designer, used his knowledge in the Marketing and Public Relations industry to come up with the ‘Vaa Shiyenze’ campaign that would see many buy her clothes with the funds supposedly utilised treatment at various hospitals within the city.

“She asked me to help her; she told me that her cancer had recurred and she doesn’t have money so she needs money for treatment,” said Oketch.

In many of her posters, Shiyenze indicated that she had received treatment at the Aga Khan, MP Shah and Karen hospitals.

However, according to Oketch, these treatments never occurred.

Shiyenze, in a video recorded by Oketch and Kakya, admitted that she never had any surgery at Apollo Hospital in India, and that neither has she ever even visited the country.

“I’m sorry for putting you in a bad situation; putting you in a mess. I didn’t know that my quack ways would soon catch up with me,” she says in the video.

Kakya, who was friends with Shiyenze for almost 6 months, alleged that she (Shiyenze) would never turn up for appointments that they were to go together and was always creating an excuse even when she said she was in need of blood transfusion.

“Every time we corner her about something she rushes to Kijabe (hospital) and tells us that she was going to seek a second opinion,” said Joyce.

Oketch added: “When I asked her for her biopsy report, she claimed that when her cancer recurred this second time, she took the report and tore it.”

A financial statement report in Citizen Digital’s possession indicates that only Ksh.50,056 has been spent by Shiyenze at the hospital since September 2018 and July 2019, but none related to cancer.

However, Charles Madowo, Shiyenze’s lawyer, insists that he has documents verifying that the embattled fashion designer was indeed battling ovarian cancer.

Oketch and Kakya have already recorded statements at Parklands Police Station, but who among the two parties is stating the truth remains a problem waiting to be solved by the investigators.

Additional reporting by Raquel Muigai.