Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has praised surgeons at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after they successfully performed a groundbreaking facial reconstruction surgery on a seven-year-old boy injured during a bandit attack.
The complex nine-hour procedure, conducted on September 25, 2025, was the first of its kind globally and aimed to restore both function and appearance. KNH confirmed that the surgery was carried out by a multidisciplinary team of its specialists and experts from the University of Nairobi.
“This milestone demonstrates not only our surgeons’ skill and determination but also Kenya’s rising leadership in specialized healthcare,” said KNH Acting CEO Dr. Richard Lesiyampe.
The patient, identified as Ian Baraka, sustained severe facial injuries in 2023 after being struck by a stray bullet during a bandit attack at the Isiolo-Meru border. He remains in the Intensive Care Unit under close monitoring.
Prof. Symon Guthua led the surgical team alongside Dr. Margaret Mwasha and Dr. Andrew Okiriamu, who described the achievement as a beacon of hope for patients in Kenya, Africa, and beyond.
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