K24 news anchor Anjlee Gadhvi dies after long battle with cancer

K24 news anchor Anjlee Gadhvi has died after a long battle with cancer.

Also Read: Former NTV presenter Janet Kanini Ikua dies

She succumbed to her illness at the Aga Khan Hospital on Friday afternoon.

“Oh my friend @AnjleeGadhvi. You fought that cancer beast with all your might. You did it for your kids, husband. Never lost hope. You always smiled through the pain & insisted on coming to work even at your weakest points. We believed you were winning…until now! RIP my friend,” said Peter Opondo, the Group Head of TV and Digital at Mediamax.

She was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2013 and pursued several treatment options that eventually turned out to be too expensive for her and her family.

Two years later, she went public about her ordeal, appealing to well-wishers to help her raise funds.

She was able to raise over Ksh.6million within hours, local media reported.

The jovial news anchor would later announce on social media that she had beaten the disease and was completely healed.

Again in 2018, she travelled to India for another treatment procedure known as the CyberKnife System.

This is a fully robotic radiation delivery system that treats cancerous and non-cancerous tumors.

“The area treated was large hence the recovery period took its time. The body and disease has responded to this form of treatment and I had to finish what was left. Praying done and over!,” she said on social media.

Back home to my beauties, #backhome #grateful #cancerwarrior after a successful #cyberknife treatment from Bengaluru #hcghospitals
Thanking you all for the continuous prayers and love you have sent me! I am Super super blessed with you all! pic.twitter.com/cgTyf1Jck5

— Anjlee Gadhvi (@AnjleeGadhvi) August 31, 2019

Anjlee leaves behind a husband and two children.

On Friday, friends and family took to social media to express their sadness and sense of loss.

Citizen TV’s Jeff Konange said: “Cancer has ROBBED us again!!!.. Such an AMAZING person!!..A very TALENTED Journalist!!…Very SAD day!!…My THOUGHTS and PRAYERS to the Family, Friends and Loved ones of Anjlee Gandhvi!!…Till we MEET again my Good Friend!!”

Media personality Julie Gichuru said: “You fought so hard sweet Anjlee, now rest. We will miss your fierce & cheeky spirit We will miss your vigour & energy We will miss your passion & dedication …but rest. You fought a good fight my friend, now sleep sweetly till we meet again.”

Timothy Otieno from KTN Kenya said: “Oh no!!! I loved @AnjleeGadhvi‘s spirit!! A Black Friday indeed… may her loving soul rest in eternal peace and may God comfort her family and especially her young kids.”

“Nooooo. ….this is sad. She fought,” Angel Katusia added.

Abdinoor Aden said: “Rip dear sister Anjlee GADHVI. A dark day for the media fraternity in Kenya. It pains to learn of this sad loss having heard of your winning in the past. May God look after her little angels and give strength to the family. CANCER.”

She was online last night and this was her last post! @AnjleeGadhvi , thank you for fighting hard for cancer patients and for your family till the last minute. We will never forget you sister. Rest Well! #RIPAnjlee #RIPAnjleegadhvi pic.twitter.com/H6swCecI6i

— njerimuthaka (@njerimuthaka) January 10, 2020

In 2017, former NTV presenter Janet Kanini-Ikua died after a long battle with lung cancer.

The former N-Soko host had been battling the disease for two years.

Benda Kithaka, the Chairperson of the Women for Cancer Early Detection and Treatment – and a close friend to the Ikuas, eulogized her as a “valiant warrior”.

“We grieve with the Ikua family, we honour and respect Janet. She has been a valiant warrior,” she said.

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore, Kibra MP Ken Okoth and Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso also died of cancer in 2019.