Metropolitan Hospital in Nairobi has completed the first robotic-assisted knee replacement surgeries in East and Central Africa, performing the procedures in December last year, in collaboration with India’s Marengo Asia Hospitals.
- •The surgeries employed robotic systems to guide bone preparation and implant alignment, allowing for patient-specific planning and improved surgical precision compared with conventional techniques.
- •The two procedures were conducted by Metropolitan Hospital surgeons Dr. Faraj Alkizim and Dr. Nathan Khamala, with support from Marengo Asia specialists.
- •The new technology is part of a broader trend of regional hospitals seeking to expand local capacity for complex medical procedures including high-precision orthopaedic care to reduce outbound medical travel.
“The introduction of robotic-assisted surgery at Metropolitan Hospital expands access to high-precision orthopaedic care in Kenya and the wider East and Central African region. It is the result of more than 30 years of investment in clinical training, infrastructure, and medical technology to ensure complex procedures can be delivered safely and consistently,” said Dr. Kanyenje Gakombe, Founder and CEO of Metropolitan Hospital.
The robotic-assisted surgery comes amid rising demand for joint replacement in Kenya and the entire region. A 2024 study in Nyamira County reported that 44.6% of adults over 40 suffer from arthritis, and many patients have historically traveled abroad for specialized care for advanced orthopaedic procedures.
This move is also aimed at strengthening Kenya’s medical tourism sector, which has been noted as a potential for growth. While the country has modern hospitals, specialized equipment, and skilled clinicians, a large number of patients continue to seek care abroad due to integrated service offerings and streamlined logistics provided by countries such as India.
The robotic system used in the procedures was supplied by Meril Life Sciences and additional support for the programme came from Wessex Pharmaceuticals and KCB.
