Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital has announced plans to scale up cochlear implant surgeries, offering renewed hope to children living with profound hearing loss and their families across the country.
The commitment follows a landmark medical achievement by the hospital, which recently and successfully carried out its first-ever cochlear implant surgeries on six children.
The children, who had been diagnosed with profound hearing loss, have since regained the ability to hear, marking a transformative moment not only in their young lives but also for their families.
The milestone was realised through the Cochlear Implant Surgery Programme 2025, an initiative that has already begun to change lives.
After undergoing surgery in November, the children recently reached a critical phase of the journey known as the ‘switch-on’ — the moment their implanted devices were activated and sound was introduced for the first time.
For many families, it was an emotional and long-awaited breakthrough.
The switch-on marks the beginning of a new chapter.
Following activation, each child will now undergo personalised speech and auditory therapy designed to support the development of listening, speech and communication skills, ensuring that hearing translates into meaningful interaction and learning.
The programme was made possible through the support of First Lady Rachel Ruto and Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa of Morocco, working in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Social Health Authority.
Their backing enabled the hospital to deliver a procedure that would otherwise be out of reach for many families.
“This is a milestone for which we thank God, the dedicated medical experts involved and our First Lady Rachel Ruto for supporting this noble initiative,” MTRH chief executive Dr Phillip Kirwa said.
Behind the success of the programme is a highly specialised multidisciplinary team at MTRH, bringing together surgeons, audiologists, speech therapists, nurses and rehabilitation specialists.
Their combined expertise ensured that every stage of the process — from assessment and surgery to activation and rehabilitation — was handled with precision and care.
Audiologists, including Angela Kiragu, played a central role in conducting pre-implant assessments, programming the devices and carrying out the meticulous switch-on process. Each implant was carefully calibrated to suit the individual hearing needs of the child, a crucial step in ensuring optimal outcomes.
Post-activation, speech and language therapy has become the focus.
These services, coordinated by Selina Kibusi, are guiding children and their families through structured rehabilitation programmes aimed at building speech, listening and communication skills essential for social integration and education.
Dr Owen Menach, director of surgical services at MTRH and lead of the cochlear implant surgical team, described the initiative as life-changing.
He said that the programme offers children the invaluable gift of sound, opening doors that had previously been closed.
He added that the hospital will continue to strengthen early screening, speech therapy and follow-up services, with each child scheduled for close monitoring and rehabilitation over the next three years to ensure sustained progress.
Dr Kirwa described the switch-on moment as a defining milestone in the children’s lives — the culmination of months of assessment, surgery and rehabilitation and the start of a new journey of sound, communication and social inclusion.
“This is not just a medical achievement, but a transformative moment for the children and their families,” he said. “The cochlear implant switch-on restores hope and opens doors to learning, interaction and an improved quality of life.”
He reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to advancing specialised care through strong partnerships with government and development partners, adding that MTRH remains dedicated to strengthening hearing health services in line with the universal health coverage agenda.
Dr Menach revealed that the procedure costs more than Sh3.5 million per child but was offered free of charge.
He said that the programme has the potential to benefit many Kenyans living with similar hearing challenges, provided they are registered with SHA and assessed for suitability for the surgery.
For parents, the impact has been deeply emotional. Some shed tears of joy upon realising that their children could hear for the first time.
Sabina Musimbi, a parent from Kakamega county, described the journey as traumatic and filled with uncertainty. She said her family had endured immense emotional strain due to her child’s hearing loss and expressed gratitude to the First Lady and MTRH for spearheading the initiative.
“I never thought my child would hear again,” she said. “I thank God for the First Lady, MTRH and everyone involved who has changed our lives for the better.”
Other parents echoed her sentiments, praising the hospital for its professionalism and the support they received throughout the entire process — from diagnosis to surgery and beyond.
For the children and their families, the sound of hope has finally arrived.
BY MATHEWS NDANYI
