Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) says its surgeons have carried out Africa's first tubeless tracheal reconstruction, a complex windpipe operation performed without a conventional breathing tube occupying the surgical field. The hospital announced the milestone on Friday, October 16, weeks after the procedure was done at its Prime Care Centre in Nairobi.

The five-hour operation took place on September 24, 2026. The patient, 26-year-old Dennis Kaiser Omondi, a retail shop owner from Kisumu, had lived with breathing difficulties for close to 20 years, according to accounts published by Citizen Digital and Capital FM.

Two decades of laboured breathing

Omondi was first diagnosed in 2008 with a benign adenoma, a non-cancerous growth inside his windpipe. Later investigations showed that his trachea had narrowed, restricting the flow of air to his lungs, and that an abnormal opening, known as a fistula, had formed between the windpipe and the skin of his neck. The combination affected his breathing, his voice and his ability to carry out ordinary daily tasks.

In a standard tracheal reconstruction, a breathing tube is passed through the airway to keep the patient ventilated, and it sits in the very area the surgeon is trying to repair. The KNH team instead kept the tube out of the operating field, giving the surgeon a clearer and less obstructed view of the damaged segment.

How the operation was done

A bronchoscope, a slim camera passed into the airway, was used to locate the diseased section and guide its removal. The surgeons cut out the narrowed portions of the windpipe, closed the fistula and then joined the healthy ends of the trachea back together. Throughout the procedure the patient continued to breathe on his own, which required tight coordination between the surgical and anaesthesia teams to keep his oxygen levels stable.

"This technique, the first in Africa, gives surgeons a clearer view of the affected windpipe," lead surgeon Dr Joseph Mutie said, according to Citizen Digital.

Dr Mutie, a consultant cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, led the team alongside ear, nose and throat specialist Dr Ruel Maina and consultant anaesthesiologist and intensivist Dr Caroline Abuya. Capital FM reported that theatre assistants and a nursing team led by Mary Nyakangi also supported the operation.

According to the hospital, the approach can reduce injury to the delicate lining of the airway, support faster healing, simplify the procedure and shorten time in theatre, while improving precision in complicated airway cases.

Patient back at work

Omondi has since been discharged and has returned to running his shop in Kisumu. He will continue attending follow-up reviews at the Prime Care Centre.

"I can now climb a flight of stairs with greater ease, which is a significant improvement after years of breathing difficulties," Omondi said, as quoted by Capital FM. He also told Citizen Digital: "I have noticed an improvement in my voice."

Treatment at home, not abroad

KNH Chief Executive Officer Dr Richard Lesiyampe said the achievement demonstrates that Kenyan specialists can deliver advanced procedures locally, sparing patients the cost and strain of seeking such treatment overseas. Prime Care Centre Senior Director Dr John Ngigi described it as a reflection of the centre's focus on specialised, patient-centred care, while Senior Director of Clinical Services Dr Joel Lessan credited innovation and multidisciplinary teamwork.

The "first in Africa" description comes from the hospital's own statement; the procedure has not yet been described in a peer-reviewed publication. The operation nonetheless adds to a string of complex surgeries KNH has publicised in recent years, including major facial reconstructions, as the national referral hospital seeks to position itself as a regional centre for specialised care.

Photos: KNH building, Capital FM; airway procedure (illustrative), Wikimedia Commons, public domain.