Doctors at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) have performed the first-ever cochlear implant surgeries in Kenya’s public healthcare system. The procedures were carried out by KNH Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists working together with ENT surgeons from the Kingdom of Morocco.
The week-long medical programme, which began on November 3 and runs until November 7, 2025, will see 50 children with hearing impairments receive implants that are expected to restore their hearing.
“So far, the medics have already operated on eight patients in our main theatres, marking the very first cochlear implant surgeries at KNH and in the public health sector,” the hospital said in a statement.
The surgeries are being carried out under a partnership between Kenya’s First Lady, Mama Rachel Ruto, and Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa of Morocco. The Princess donated cochlear implant devices worth over Sh120 million to support the project.
KNH says the project marks a major step toward positioning the hospital as a regional Centre of Excellence in the treatment and management of hearing loss.
This milestone comes shortly after KNH attracted international attention for performing a rare and complex reconstructive surgery on a teenage girl suffering from gigantomastia — a condition that causes abnormal breast growth.
The 11-hour surgery, conducted on September 22, 2025, saw surgeons remove 20.86 kilograms of breast tissue from the patient, 17-year-old Lydia Musivi. The weight removed represented 37 percent of her total body weight.
KNH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Richard Lesiyampe described the operation as both a medical and humanitarian achievement.
“This case was not just about surgery. It was about restoring dignity, hope, and the future of a young woman,” he said.
Lydia expressed relief after her recovery, saying she can now return to school and pursue her dream of becoming a teacher.
“I feel free and lighter. The weight is gone. I can now continue with my life,” she said.
Her mother, Naomi Mutendwa, thanked KNH for giving her daughter “a second chance at life,” after years of pain and stigma.
Dr. Benjamin Wabwire, who led the operation, said the success shows that Kenyan surgeons can handle complex medical procedures previously thought only possible abroad.
“This proves that we have the skill, expertise, and compassion to solve major health challenges locally,” he said.
KNH says Lydia was been discharged and is recovering well at her home in Mwingi, Kitui County. She is expected to return to school in January 2026.
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