Health Strategist & Cancer Advocate
Benda Kithaka is an award-winning advocate with over 15 years of experience in policy advocacy, community mobilization, and strategic communication. She combines a corporate background in marketing and research with a human-centered approach to transform cancer control and management across Africa.
Leadership Roles
- Founder & Executive Director: KILELE Health Association.
- Secretariat Lead: African Cervical Health Alliance (ACHA), a regional coalition focused on cervical cancer elimination.
Key Advocacy & Policy Contributions
- Global Influence: Contributes to platforms including the WHO, IARC, UICC, and ASCO.
- Resource Development: Co-creates impactful tools for cancer control, with work featured in WHO toolkits and peer-reviewed journals.
- Focus: Amplifying the voices of underserved communities through system-thinking and strategic advocacy.
Honors & Awards
- Recent Recognition: 2025 National Cancer Institute of Kenya Excellence Award; 2024 NCI USA – ASGCR Rachel Pearline Award.
- Global Honors: IGCS Dicey Scroggins Award (2019); AACE Selma Morris Travel Award (2018).
- Local Leadership: 2020 KENCO Advocate of the Year; 2016 Cancer Ambassador of the Year (Kenya).
Personal & Values
- Purpose-Driven: Guided by integrity and a commitment to positive impact.
- Personal Life: A mother of three children, living purposefully through her faith.