Kenyatta National Hospital successfully performed the first-ever cochlear implant surgeries, conducted in partnership with specialists from Morocco.
The mission will benefit 50 children after a Sh120 million donation by First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto and Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa of the Kingdom of Morocco.
According to a statement released on Monday by the Ministry of Health, the groundbreaking procedure was carried out by local Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeons working alongside a team of specialists from the Kingdom of Morocco.
The joint mission, which runs from November 3 to 7, 2025, marks the first time in history that cochlear implant surgery has been conducted within Kenya’s public healthcare system.
The Ministry described the event as a new chapter in Kenya’s medical history, noting that eight children have already undergone successful operations at the hospital’s main theatres, out of a total of 50 beneficiaries targeted during the week-long surgical mission.
“This initiative is a significant milestone, positioning KNH as a future Centre of Excellence in hearing care,” the statement read.
The programme not only brings world-class surgical technology closer to Kenyans but also sets the stage for KNH to become a regional hub for advanced ear and hearing treatment.
The Ministry hailed the collaboration as “a powerful example of international solidarity and shared commitment to health equity.”
For many of the young patients and their families, the moment marks a life-changing transformation.
The Ministry described the operation as one that symbolises renewed hope, connection, and the promise of a brighter, inclusive future.
Cochlear implants are small, sophisticated devices that stimulate the auditory nerve, allowing people with profound hearing loss to perceive sound.
Unlike hearing aids, which amplify noise, cochlear implants directly bypass damaged parts of the ear, a procedure that requires high surgical precision and specialised post-operative rehabilitation.
The Ministry highlighted that the surgeries reflect the 5th Administration’s commitment under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) to expand access to specialised, affordable healthcare and strengthen Kenya’s capacity for complex medical procedures locally.
The hospital’s ENT team has been undergoing intensive training to sustain the programme beyond the mission, ensuring that more patients benefit from cochlear implant surgeries in the coming years.
The ultimate goal of this initiative is to ensure that no child in Kenya is left behind due to preventable or correctable hearing loss.
The first phase proved success among medical professionals and parents who collaborated to ensure that that the process is complete.
