The first lady of the Republic of Kenya HE Rachel Ruto
together with her Royal Highness Lalla Asma have officially launched the
Cochlear implant project at Kenyatta National Hospital KNH on Wednesday
5th November 2025.
During the week-long project running from 3rd to 7th
November, KNH ENT surgeons in partnership with their counterparts from the
Kingdom of Morocco will perform Cochlear implant surgeries on 70 children with
hearing impairment to restore their hearing.
Speaking during the launch, Her Excellency Mama Rachel Ruto
lauded the partnership as a noble opportunity to give children who have never
had a chance to have the capability to hear and speak the ability to do so.
“For too long, silence has shaped the lives of
many children in Kenya and across Africa, children born full of promises, but
unable to hear the voices that call their names. Parents who have never had
their child say Mama or Baba. Today that silence begins to fade, replaced with
the possibility of sound, of belonging and of connection,” she said.
The First Lady highlighted a new government initiative that is set to transform the lives of children born with hearing impairments.
Through partnerships with dedicated healthcare providers, Kenya is scaling up
cochlear implant surgeries, advanced medical procedures that offer a chance for
deaf children to hear and engage fully with their families and communities.
"Silence is no longer the narrative for our children,” the First Lady said emphatically.
She lauded the collaborative efforts between
public institutions and private partners that have made this program possible,
emphasizing that such partnerships exemplify what can be achieved when shared
humanity and a common purpose prevail.
The initiative is not just a medical intervention but a societal commitment.
“This program is about ensuring every child, regardless of the challenges they face at birth, has the opportunity to live a life of dignity and inclusion," she noted.
“We are opening doors where once there
were walls.”
The scale of this initiative reflects the importance of hearing as a fundamental human sense.
The First Lady urged continued investment in and support for such health innovations, so more children across Kenya and Africa can benefit.
She highlighted the government’s health agenda which
prioritizes expanding access to advanced surgical treatments and inclusive
health education.
The First Lady reinforced the message of hope and determination.
"Every child in Kenya deserves the chance to be heard and
to thrive. This is our promise as a nation—to ensure that no child is left in
silence," she said.
This landmark healthcare program aligns with global health goals to reduce disability and promote equity.
It sets a precedent for other
countries in Africa to follow suit, harnessing technology and human compassion
to overcome barriers.
As Kenya advances this initiative, the first lady said, the focus remains on sustainability and expanding specialized medical training to build local capacity.
She called on all sectors of society; government, private
sector, communities, and families to unite in nurturing an inclusive future for
all children.
“The journey to replace silence with sound is a testament to
Kenya’s progress in health innovation and social inclusion. It reaffirms a
compassionate vision that every Kenyan child deserves to experience the
fullness of life, enriched by communication, connection and care,” she said.
She affirmed that this commitment not only improves
individual lives but strengthens the social fabric of communities across the
country, fostering resilience and shared prosperity for generations to come.
The message is clear: silence is no longer inevitable; with
collective will and action, it can be overcome, bringing light and voice to the
lives of Kenya’s children.
