Reports are circulating online claiming that former Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has died after a battle with prostate cancer .The claims have generated attention on social media, with some posts presenting the former Cabinet Secretary as having succumbed to an illness.
Balala, who served for years as Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, has remained a prominent figure in the country’s tourism sector even after leaving the Cabinet.
In April 2026, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation reported that he had been appointed Executive Vice-President for Advocacy, Government Affairs and Research at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), taking on an international role focused on tourism policy and engagement with governments and industry stakeholders.
The former minister’s political career spans several decades. He previously represented Mvita Constituency in Parliament and held ministerial responsibilities before becoming one of Kenya’s longest-serving tourism Cabinet Secretaries.
The death reports come at a time when prostate cancer remains a major public-health concern among men. Health specialists continue to encourage early screening and medical assessment, particularly for older men, because the disease can develop without obvious symptoms in its early stages.
Members of the public are advised to wait for verified statements from Balala’s family, official government channels, his representatives as the story continues to develop.
