Hot Tea, Mursik, Miraa Linked to Growing Cancer Cases by National Cancer Institute

Mursik, most common among the Kalenjin community, could actually add you to the growing list of people diagnosed with cancer, so will hot tea and miraa which is mostly grown in Meru County and most common in Northern Kenya.

This is according to a study carried out by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) on Thursday, 15th November 2018. It stated that esophageal cancer is the leading killer after cancer of the cervix, breast, stomach, and prostate.

Esophageal cancer kills 4,354 people per year. The earliest signs to look out for are difficulty in breathing and getting chocking effects. Weight loss is also another sign that is associated with almost all types of cancers.

Mursik is a traditionally fermented cow or goat milk variant among the Kalenjin community. It is fermented in a special guard lined on the inside with soot from special trees to add flavor to the drink. It has occasionally made it to National limelight such as when marathon champions are getting back to the country after a win. They are met with a guard of nicely blended Mursik as a welcoming sign. The drink is quite to the communities and NCI just dealt a nasty blow with its study. The carcinogenic level of ethanol in mursik could contribute to starting of the cancer formation according to the acting Chief Executive of the NCI, Alfred Karagu.

Hot tea is an African culture; guests are mostly welcomed with a cup of hot tea irrespective of the wealth. Breakfast in most Kenyan households includes a cup of hot tea and a few slices of bread. Hot tea has now been said to also cause cancer if taken in while chewing Miraa. The ingestion of miraa while taking hot tea by residents of Northern Kenya region cause irritation of the inner lining of the food pipe explaining why residents of other region are less likely to be diagnosed with cancer of the food pipe despite taking hot tea.

Miraa, which in previous times has been said to cause infertility was also mentioned linking it to cancer. Our Meru brothers will never uproot their treasured Muguka. The controversial plant that produces leaves and stems that have adults chewing curds is too hot to talk about. It feeds too many communities and if it is killing and destroying lives in the process, nobody is ready to speak out and face the wrath of Muguka farmers.

The three have been named as the leading causes of cancer of the esophagus or food pipe in Northern Kenya and Rift Valley respectively.