At least 50 Kenyans who cannot afford the high cost of specialised surgical care are set to receive free laparoscopic procedures in Nairobi later this month, offering fresh hope to patients who have long waited for treatment.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, January 6, the Ministry of Health said the surgeries will be carried out by a team of experienced surgeons from Mumbai, India, led by Dr Mufazzal Lakdawalla.
The ministry said 50 minimally invasive, or “keyhole,” operations will be conducted free of charge between January 13 and 14, 2026.
The procedures will take place at Kenyatta National Hospital and Kenyatta University Teaching, Research and Referral Hospital in Nairobi County.
Laparoscopic surgery involves making small incisions through which specialised instruments, including a camera-fitted tube, are inserted to allow doctors to operate without large cuts. The technique is associated with less pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery compared to open surgery.
The medical outreach is part of a broader visit by the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, who is expected in Nairobi from January 8 to January 18, 2026.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Tuesday held consultations with leaders of the Dawoodi Bohra community to coordinate the exercise. The delegation in Kenya was led by the community’s head priest, Koserali Najmuddin, a nephew of the current spiritual leader and grandson of the 51st al-Dai al-Mutlaq.
During the meeting, the delegation sought guidance on how to operate within Kenya’s medical and regulatory framework, while committing to comply fully with all directives from the Ministry of Health.
The visiting surgeons are expected to work alongside Kenyan doctors at the two hospitals, an arrangement the ministry says will help transfer skills and strengthen local capacity in specialised surgical care.
According to the ministry, the initiative aligns with its Universal Health Coverage agenda, which seeks to expand access to quality healthcare through partnerships. The meeting was also attended by Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth and Public Health Administration Principal Secretary Adan Harakhe.
For patients who have struggled to access specialised surgery due to cost, the two-day programme offers a rare chance at life-changing treatment at no cost.
