- Kenyatta National Hospital doctors successfully removed 20.86 kg of tissue from a 17-year-old girl in a world-record procedure
- The 10-hour operation freed Lydia Musivi from a rare condition that caused severe pain and forced her to drop out of school
- The medical team hailed the success as a landmark in Kenya’s healthcare, showing that world-class treatment can happen locally
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
A team of specialists at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) achieved a groundbreaking medical milestone.
Source: Getty Images
This was after the medics successfully performed an 11-hour surgery to remove a massive 20.86-kilogram tissue growth from a 17-year-old girl.
The procedure, believed to be the largest of its kind globally, was hailed as a major step in Kenya’s medical innovation.
According to a statement by KNH, the teenager, identified as Lydia Musivi, had been living with a rare condition known as gigantomastia, which caused excessive tissue growth and immense physical and emotional distress.
What condition was Lydia Musivi suffering from?
The weight of the tissue was equivalent to 37% of her total body weight, forcing her to abandon her education and dreams for 18 months.
“Lydia’s condition caused extreme, rapid breast growth, leading to chronic pain, skin infections and profound emotional distress. The simple act of walking and standing up straight had become a struggle and her hope for the future was fading,” KNH said.
“The weight is now over. I feel free, lighter, and ready to return to school,” Lydia shared with relief. “I can finally live the life I was meant to live and follow my dream of becoming a high school teacher.”
The complex surgery, performed on September 22, was led by Benjamin Wabwire, head of specialised surgery and consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon at KNH.
He described the operation as more than a medical procedure, calling it a restoration of dignity and future for a young woman.
Richard Lesiyampe, the hospital’s acting chief executive officer, praised the success as a testament to Kenya’s growing medical expertise.
“This achievement shows that world-class medical breakthroughs are happening right here in Kenya. We are solving local health challenges with innovation and compassion,” he said.
Team of medics that performed the groundbreaking surgery
The multidisciplinary team behind the success included specialists from Kenya and South Korea, among them Professor Lew and Doctor Kim from Yonsei University.
The anaesthesia team was led by doctors Eileen Towett and Helen Mwari, with nursing support from Esther Munga and Eun Jin Chae, who provided crucial care throughout the procedure.
Source: Twitter
Lydia’s mother, Ms. Naomi Mutwendwa, recounted the family’s emotional journey, saying they had almost lost hope before being referred to KNH from Garissa County Referral Hospital.
“I watched my daughter disappear under the weight of this illness. The team at KNH didn’t just treat her, they gave her back her life,” she said tearfully.
Lydia has since been discharged and is recuperating at her home in Mwingi, Kitui county. She expressed gratitude to the medical team and hopes to rejoin her classmates when schools reopen in January 2026.
How did KNH change the future for amputee care?
In May, KNH made global medical history after successfully performing the world’s first Transhumeral Targeted Sensory Reinnervation (TSR) surgery on a 22-year-old amputee.
The rare procedure was carried out during the hospital’s TSR Surgical Camp and lasted over seven hours.
The surgery involved rerouting nerves from the amputated arm to healthy skin, allowing the patient to regain sensation in his missing limb. It restored the ability to feel touch and temperature, offering hope for better prosthetic control and pain relief.
A team of Kenyan and international specialists led the groundbreaking operation, which marked a major advancement in reconstructive surgery.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
