The Ministry of Health has hailed a landmark achievement at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), congratulating the team for performing Kenya’s first orbital-facial prosthesis in a public hospital.
In a statement, the Ministry said it celebrates the remarkable work of the hospital team.
"This milestone reflects the power of specialised public healthcare to not only save lives but also restore identity and hope. Through innovation, multidisciplinary care, and compassion, patients like Mr Munyiri can regain confidence, dignity, and the ability to live fully again," it said.
The Ministry added, “Beyond saving lives, advanced medical interventions like the orbital-facial prosthesis can restore identity, dignity, and hope for patients and their families.”
KNH has now brought that vision to reality.
The patient, 65-year-old John Munyiri, a farmer from Laikipia County, was diagnosed with maxillary carcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer of the sinus, after experiencing months of swelling and blockage in his left nostril.
In June 2022, he was referred to KNH, where he underwent 25 sessions of radiotherapy in a determined effort to halt the disease.
Despite treatment, radical surgery became necessary in June 2023.
Doctors removed his left eye, part of his nose, and sections of his upper jaw to save his life.
While the surgery was successful in eliminating the cancer, it left the patient physically transformed, requiring specialised care to restore essential functions and facial symmetry.
The hospital explained that the next phase of recovery focused on both function and appearance.
“The multidisciplinary Maxillofacial and Prosthodontics teams at KNH worked to restore essential functions such as speech and eating,” the hospital said in a statement.
The patient was fitted with a custom maxillary obturator to close the gap between his mouth and nasal cavity, followed by dentures and speech therapy.
The hospital noted that while these interventions restored daily function, the emotional impact of facial disfigurement remained significant.
To address this, in June 2025, KNH’s team designed and crafted a three-piece, magnet-retained orbital-facial prosthesis to restore facial symmetry, stability, and comfort.
In January 2026, the procedure was completed, making the patient the first in Kenya’s public healthcare system to receive such a prosthesis.
The multidisciplinary team, led by ENT and Head and Neck Surgeon Samuel Okerosi, Prosthodontist Margaret Mwasha, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Andrew Okiriamu, and Dental Technologist John Kariuki, combined expertise in surgery, prosthodontics, and dental technology to achieve the milestone.
Kenyatta Hospital highlighted the significance of the achievement.
“This procedure restores not only appearance but also function, confidence, and quality of life. It demonstrates the ability of public hospitals to deliver advanced, specialised care," it said.
It added: “Through multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation, KNH continues to provide solutions that improve both the physical and emotional well-being of patients.”
Today, the patient has resumed farming and community activities, with full functional recovery and restored facial symmetry.
The success story, KNH said, underscores the importance of specialised care in public health facilities.
“The completion of Kenya’s first orbital-facial prosthesis in a public hospital is a landmark achievement in the field of reconstructive care,” the hospital said.
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