Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has registered a milestone by successfully conducting emergency surgery on conjoined twin babies who were referred from Naivasha County Hospital shortly after birth.
In a statement issued on Monday, August 10, KNH chief executive Evanson Kamura said the hospital is managing the twins, who were born via caesarean section on August 13, 2025. The pair had a combined birth weight of 3.6 kilos.
The babies were transferred to KNH’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at 3:00 am on August 14 after doctors established they were conjoined at the abdomen and pelvis. Initial examinations revealed they had no anal openings.
To save their lives, a team of paediatric surgeons performed an emergency colostomy on August 17 to create an opening to relieve intestinal obstruction and allow the babies to pass stool.
“Further tests have revealed that the twins share a single large intestine. They also present with congenital heart disease, impaired liver function and a mild blood infection, all of which are being managed by the hospital’s multidisciplinary team,” said the CEO.
The surgery was led by senior director of clinical services Dr Joel Lessan, assisted by Dr Tim Jumbi, Dr Caroline Mwende and Dr Tigst Gebre. They were supported by theatre service assistants Emily Munene, Bernard Ayunga and biomedical engineer Steve Belle, alongside nursing officers James Shikiku, Samuel Orina, Stella Gaitho and Catherine Wawira.
Kamura said the twins are in stable condition and remain under close observation.
“The twins continue to receive specialised care from a full team of neonatologists, pediatric surgeons, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, radiologists, psychologists and social workers,” he said.
