The Kenya University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) successfully performed its first two kidney transplant surgeries.
The two surgeries were conducted on May 7 and 8, 2025.
Both recipients and donors are recovering well post-surgery.
Medical Services PS Dr Ouma Oluga who officially launched the kidney transplant services on Friday, commended the KUTRRH team for the milestone.
He was joined by the Acting CEO Zeinab Gura, and Chairperson of the Board of Directors Kembi Gitura.
Over the past three years, KUTRRH has been working to establish a renal transplant centre.
This has included training staff at Apollo Hospital in India, acquiring specialised equipment, and building collaborative partnerships.
The surgeries were carried out in partnership with a team of kidney specialists from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), who will continue to provide mentorship as the hospital builds internal capacity.
One donor-recipient pair is already prepared for the next transplant, and eight additional pairs are undergoing evaluation at the transplant clinic.
The surgeries were supported through the Social Health Authority (SHA), reducing the financial burden on patients and enhancing access to specialised kidney care in line with the country’s Universal Health Coverage goals.
This development positions KUTRRH as a growing centre for renal care services in Kenya.
Kidney disease in Kenya is on the rise with approximately four million Kenyans (one in every 10 people) having some form of kidney disease, according to statistics from the Kenya Renal Association (KRA).
Specifically, the estimated number of patients with End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) who require kidney transplants is 12,500.
By October 2022, about 6,300 of these patients were undergoing chronic hemodialysis treatments.
In 2021, there were only 160 kidney transplants versus 5,700 patients who were on hemodialysis.
This is a transplant conversion rate of 2.8 per cent, against a rate of approximately 10 per cent that has been observed globally.
