NAIROBI, Kenya — A team of surgeons and specialists at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has performed a record-breaking surgery, successfully removing 20.86 kilograms of breast tissue from a 17-year-old girl suffering from a rare condition known as gigantomastia.
The operation, hailed as the largest procedure of its kind worldwide, has been described as a milestone for Kenya’s medical community and a triumph of skill, compassion, and innovation.
The complex 11-hour surgery, performed on September 22, 2025, gave the patient, Lydia Musivi, a new lease on life after enduring an 18-month ordeal that left her physically incapacitated and emotionally distressed.
The tissue removed accounted for 37 P.c of her total body weight, forcing her to abandon school and live in constant pain.
“The weight is now over. I feel free, lighter, and ready to return to school,” Lydia said after her recovery. “I can finally live the life I was meant to live and follow my dream of becoming a high school teacher.”
The operation was led by Dr. Benjamin Wabwire, Head of Specialized Surgery and Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at KNH, with support from a multidisciplinary team that included Dr. Claire Odero, Dr. Agnes Wanjiru, and Dr. Joy Mwangi.
Anaesthesia was handled by Dr. Eileen Towett and Dr. Hellen Waweru, while the nursing team, led by Ms. Esther Munga and Ms. Eun Jin Chae, provided continuous care throughout the procedure.
Dr. Wabwire emphasized the human impact of the operation, noting that it symbolized more than surgical excellence. “This was more than a surgical success; it was the restoration of a young woman’s dignity and future. Our team at KNH proved that with world-class skill and deep compassion, we can overcome even the most extreme medical challenges. We are not just treating conditions — we are transforming lives,” he said.
The patient’s mother, Naomi Mutwenda, described the family’s long struggle to find help.
“I watched my daughter disappear under the weight of this illness. It stole her confidence and her future. We felt hopeless until we were referred to KNH from Garissa County Referral Hospital,” she said. “The team saved my daughter’s life. They didn’t just treat her; they gave her back her future.”
KNH Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, commended the surgical team for achieving a global medical milestone.
“This achievement demonstrates that world-class medical breakthroughs are happening right here in Kenya. We are solving local health challenges through global standards of innovation and deep human touch,” he said.
Lydia has since been discharged and is recovering at her home in Mwingi, Kitui County. Doctors say her prognosis is excellent, and she is expected to return to school in January 2026 to resume her studies.
The successful procedure reinforces KNH’s reputation as a center of medical excellence in Africa. It also highlights Kenya’s growing capability in complex surgeries once thought possible only in highly specialized international hospitals.
As Dr. Lesiyampe noted, “This is not just a Kenyan success story; it is an African one — where expertise and empathy converge to restore dignity, hope, and health.”
