MAKUENI, Kenya – A 29-year-old man from Chyandulu village in Muuni sub-location, Makueni County, is fighting for his life at Makindu Sub-County Hospital after he allegedly severed his private parts using a sharp object.
Police said the case was reported on Wednesday by the man’s father, 70, and his elder brother, 34, who rushed him to hospital for emergency care.
Officers have classified it as a case of self-inflicted serious bodily harm. The motive for the act remains unclear, with investigations ongoing.
Though rare, cases of genital mutilation and amputation have been documented in Kenya.
Medical experts say timely surgical intervention can sometimes restore function if the severed organ is preserved and the patient receives prompt, specialized care.
One of the most publicized cases occurred in January 2019, when doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) successfully reattached the penis of a Form Three student after it was cut off at the base with a kitchen knife by an unknown assailant.
The complex seven-hour procedure involved a team of 15 specialists, including urologists and plastic surgeons. The boy later regained the ability to urinate normally and achieved partial erectile function.
Microsurgical replantation is now considered the global standard for managing penile amputations, according to research published in ScienceDirect.
The delicate procedure requires reconnecting arteries, veins, and nerves under magnification to restore both urinary and sexual function while reducing risks of long-term complications such as erectile dysfunction or loss of sensation.
Doctors emphasize that the success of such operations depends heavily on how quickly the patient reaches hospital and how well the amputated tissue is preserved.
Ideally, surgery should be performed within six hours of the injury, though positive outcomes have also been reported in cases where tissue was properly stored and handled.
Kenyan specialists note that while facilities like KNH have demonstrated capacity to perform such demanding surgeries, many hospitals lack the equipment or trained personnel for microsurgical repair.
The Makueni patient remains under close medical care as police continue their probe into the circumstances of the incident.
