KNH specialist surgeons successfully remove massive liver tumour during surgical camp

KNH doctors successfully removed a 4kg liver tumour in a seven-hour operation, showcasing the hospital's growing expertise in complex surgeries. (Photo: Facebook/KNH)

By Bashir Mbuthia
Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital successfully removed a four-kilogram liver tumour during a seven-hour operation, highlighting the growing capacity of local specialists to handle complex surgeries.

Doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) have completed a seven-hour operation to remove a four-kilogram liver tumour, marking a major milestone in specialised surgery at the country’s largest referral hospital.

The procedure, known as a right hepatectomy, was conducted during the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgical Camp held at KNH from June 10 to 12.

It was carried out by a multidisciplinary team of HPB specialists from KNH, the University of Nairobi, and other institutions, supported by anaesthetists, theatre nurses and technical staff. The initiative also brought together partners from the Europe-Africa HPB Association, Aga Khan University, and visiting surgeons from Egypt's University of Science and Technology Hospital.

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“Led by Dr Gibson Musila, Head of the Department of General Surgery at KNH, the camp went beyond patient care—it served as a platform for mentorship and skills transfer, strengthening local expertise in complex liver, pancreatic and biliary surgeries.”

KNH said the successful operation underscores its growing capacity to carry out advanced procedures that require highly specialised skills and coordinated care.

“This achievement reflects KNH’s growing capacity to deliver world-class specialised care closer to home, transforming lives and reaffirming its role as a national referral centre where even the most complex medical challenges are met with skill, innovation, and hope,” the hospital said.

“To the entire team, your dedication is nothing short of inspiring.”

In a separate case last month, doctors at the facility performed a rare and complex life-saving surgery on a young man who had been impaled by two steel rods at a construction site. He sustained severe pelvic injuries after the rods pierced his body from back to front, causing a pelvic fracture and extensive soft tissue damage, in what doctors described as a critical and unusual trauma case.