In a feat of medical excellence that has left many in awe, surgeons at Kenyatta National Hospital have successfully removed a massive four-kilogramme liver tumour from a patient during a complex seven-hour operation, giving the individual a precious second chance at life.
The landmark procedure, known as a right hepatectomy, was the standout achievement of the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgical Camp held at KNH from June 10 to 12, 2026. Removing a growth of this size is no small feat – it demands superhuman precision, meticulous planning, and seamless teamwork from everyone involved.
Leading the charge was renowned HPB specialist Prof. Soriman, who worked alongside a team of skilled surgeons from KNH and the University of Nairobi, including Dr K. Ondede (Director of Surgical Services), Dr Muia, Dr Kaisha, and Dr Nthambi. They were joined by visiting HPB surgeons Dr Karan and Dr Misoi. Behind the scenes, an elite anaesthesia squad – Dr Simiyu, Dr Kasuku, Dr Muchiri, Dr Omundi, Mr Kwame, and residents Dr Atieno and Dr Monda – worked tirelessly to keep the patient stable throughout the marathon surgery. The theatre nursing team, led by B. Khandega and supported by C. Tuwei, M. Wambui, S. Njeru, D. Kemuma, P. Nyaga, J. Kinyanjui and Moraa, ensured everything ran without a single misstep.
The miraculous breakthrough was fuelled by a powerful global alliance linking KNH, the Europe-Africa HPB Association, the University of Nairobi, Aga Khan University, and visiting surgical specialists from the University of Science and Technology Hospital in Egypt. This collaboration brought together some of the finest minds in the field, all united by a common goal – saving lives and building local capacity.
Led by Dr Gibson Musila, Head of the Department of General Surgery at KNH, the three-day intensive camp defied all odds by successfully delivering 13 highly specialised procedures. The team conquered everything from radical liver resections to the notoriously complex Whipple's procedure, alongside two hepaticojejunostomies and six laparoscopic cholecystectomies.
But this camp was about more than just the immediate victories on the operating table. It functioned as a high-level training ground for local talent, with senior specialists using these complex cases to mentor the next generation of healthcare workers. This skills transfer is permanently upgrading the region's surgical capabilities, meaning more Kenyans can now access world-class specialised care right here at home, without the need to travel abroad.
"This achievement reflects KNH's growing capacity to deliver world-class specialised care closer to home, transforming lives and reaffirming its role as a national referral centre where even the most complex medical challenges are met with skill, innovation, and hope," the hospital said in a statement.
For the patient who walked into KNH facing an uncertain future, today, there is hope. And for Kenya's healthcare system, this historic operation is proof that when expertise is shared and teamwork is prioritised, even the impossible becomes possible.
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