By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya
Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has put Kenya on the global medical map by successfully performing the world’s first Transhumeral Targeted Sensory Reinnervation (TSR) surgery.
The groundbreaking operation, which restored sensation to the upper arm stump of a 22-year-old amputee, was carried out on April 29, 2025.
The recipient, Moses Mwendwa, a software engineering student, had lost his dominant left arm earlier this year following complications from compartment syndrome caused by a fall in Nairobi.
After being misdiagnosed at two hospitals, he was admitted to KNH, where doctors were forced to amputate the arm to save his life.
Despite the physical and emotional challenges that followed, hope was reignited when Mwendwa became part of TSR Camp, the first of its kind in Africa, hosted at KNH from April 28 to May 2.
The highlight of the camp was the innovative seven-hour nerve rerouting surgery that created a ‘sensory map,’ enabling the patient to feel sensations as if his missing hand were still present greatly enhancing future prosthetic function.
“This is like magic feeling my hand again,” Mwendwa said during a press briefing after the surgery.
The procedure was led by Prof. Ferdinand Nang’ole and Dr. Benjamin Wabwire from KNH, alongside visiting Italian expert Prof. Alexander Gardetto.
They were supported by a team of specialists from the University of Nairobi.
Dr. Wabwire emphasized that the success of this surgery marks more than a scientific feat it symbolizes restored dignity and renewed possibilities for amputees.
KNH Chief executive Officer Dr. Evanson Kamuri praised the achievement, calling it evidence of the hospital’s commitment to innovation, strategic collaborations, and advanced medical care.
This pioneering surgery is expected to pave the way for more advanced rehabilitative options for amputees across Africa and beyond.
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