Fighting for life: The struggles and hope for kidney patients in Kenya

In 2020, as the world struggled to adapt to the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic, Peter Karanja’s life took a turn he never expected. At just 24 years old, the rising DJ was forced to confront a reality that shattered his dreams: kidney failure.

It all started with what seemed like a harmless headache and blurry vision at work. Fatigue crept in, making it harder for him to concentrate. At first, he brushed it off, assuming it was just exhaustion. But as the symptoms persisted, he decided to go for a checkup.

“After several tests, the doctors told me my kidneys were failing. I was in shock. I felt like my entire life had come to a standstill,” Karanja recalls.

The diagnosis hit him hard. Just as his career was beginning to flourish, he found himself questioning everything. He spiralled into depression, unable to process what was happening. The thought of being tethered to hospitals, needles, and medication felt unbearable.

With no answers and no clear path forward, he packed his belongings and returned to his rural home, hoping the quiet environment would give him peace. But instead of feeling better, his condition worsened.

"My face, my hands, my entire body began to swell. It was then that I realised I couldn't just sit and wait. My parents and friends kept urging me to seek treatment, and as my symptoms worsened, I knew I had no choice but to go ahead with it."

When Karanja finally accepted treatment, he faced another challenge—the overwhelming cost. Dialysis became his new reality, a lifeline he couldn’t afford to lose. He had to undergo the gruelling procedure twice a week, with each session costing Sh9,000. At times, the money simply wasn’t available, placing a heavy burden on him, his family and his friends.

“Dialysis is exhausting. It drains you physically and mentally. For two years, I was stuck in this cycle, just trying to stay alive while worrying about how to pay for the next session,” he says.

But dialysis wasn’t a cure—just a temporary fix. Finding a kidney donor was another challenging task.

He finally found a match—his mother—after months of waiting, hoping, and enduring numerous tests.

“At first, I was scared. I didn’t want to put her health at risk. However, she remained resolute. After several tests, we were cleared for the surgery,” Karanja shares.

Life-changing

The transplant was life-changing, but recovery was not easy.

“It took me four months to fully heal, while my mother recovered in just one month. I can never thank her enough for her sacrifice,” he says with deep gratitude.

The surgery cost him aroundSh1.5 million. Even after the successful transplant, his battle wasn’t over. Now, he had to rely on lifelong medication to prevent his body from rejecting the new kidney.

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“The doctors told me that since this is a foreign organ, my body will always try to fight it. The only way to stay healthy is to keep taking my medication no matter what,” he explains.

Growing burden in Kenya

Karanja now understands that kidney disease doesn’t just affect the body—it takes a mental, emotional, and financial toll.

“This disease changes everything. It’s expensive, it’s draining, and sometimes you feel like giving up. But I want to encourage anyone going through it—stay patient, trust the process, and fight for your life. I know how hard it is, but there is hope,” he says.

Currently, over 5,000 patients in Kenya rely on dialysis to survive, while nearly 5 million Kenyans are living with chronic kidney disease—some not even aware of their condition.

Each year, more than 12,000 new cases are diagnosed, adding to the growing burden. Globally, kidney disease is on the rise and is projected to become the fifth leading cause of premature deaths by 2040.

Dr John Nginge, a chief nephrologist and kidney specialist at Nairobi West Hospital, highlights the growing burden of kidney disease in Kenya, largely fuelled by increasing cases of diabetes and hypertension. He emphasises that prevention is key to addressing this escalating health crisis.

“Screening high-risk individuals—those with hypertension, diabetes, obesity, or a family history of kidney disease—is essential. Early identification allows doctors to intervene before the condition progresses to life-threatening stages,” he explains.

For patients with kidney failure, the two main treatment options are dialysis or a transplant. However, dialysis remains a significant challenge due to its high cost and its temporary nature.

“Currently, more than 2,000 patients are on dialysis, and we need to establish an exit strategy for them,” Dr Nginge stresses.

Kenya has made remarkable progress in kidney transplants, with over 3,000 successful procedures conducted locally. The establishment of more transplant centres is instilling hope in many. However, the biggest challenge remains the availability of donors.