For 65-year-old John Munyiri, a farmer from Laikipia County, what began as a stubborn blockage in his left nostril slowly turned into a life-altering ordeal.
Months later, his eye became swollen and watery, and daily life, farming, sleeping, and even speaking grew increasingly difficult.
A biopsy confirmed the devastating diagnosis: maxillary carcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer of the sinus.
In June 2022, he was referred to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where he underwent 25 sessions of radiotherapy in a determined fight to stop the disease from spreading.
Why doctors removed John Munyiri’s left eye
Despite treatment, the cancer required radical surgery in June 2023. Doctors removed his left eye, part of his nose, and sections of his upper jaw to save his life.
When he woke up, he was cancer-free but physically transformed. The victory over cancer came with a high emotional cost. Looking in the mirror was painful. Walking with an eye patch drew stares. For a man deeply rooted in community life, the visible changes quietly eroded his confidence.
His journey did not end in the operating theatre. At the KNH Dental Unit, the Maxillofacial and Prosthodontics teams focused on restoring both his function and dignity.
Once healed, he was fitted with a customised maxillary obturator to close the gap between his mouth and nasal cavity, enabling him to speak clearly and eat properly again.
Dentures followed, and with continued speech therapy and prosthetic support, he gradually regained essential daily functions many people take for granted.
Despite his physical recovery, he still felt emotionally incomplete, with the eye patch serving for nearly four years as a painful reminder of his loss.
How KNH doctors restored John Munyiri’s appearance
In June 2025, recognising both the complexity of his condition and its emotional impact, the multidisciplinary team stepped in once more to restore his appearance, designing and crafting a three-piece, magnet-retained orbital–facial prosthesis at KNH for improved stability and comfort.
In January 2026, Munyiri became the first patient in Kenya’s public healthcare system and at KNH to receive an orbital–facial prosthesis.
The milestone was achieved through the collaboration of Dr Samuel Okerosi, Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon; Dr Margaret Mwasha, MBS, Consultant Prosthodontist; Dr Andrew Okiriamu, HSC Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon; and Mr John Kariuki, Dental Technologist.
Together, they restored his facial symmetry, function, and sense of wholeness, freeing him from the eye patch he had worn for years.
Today, Munyiri is back on his farm and active in his community. He speaks clearly, eats comfortably, and walks with renewed confidence.
His journey is a powerful Kenyan story of resilience, innovation, and the strength of multidisciplinary care. It is proof that beyond saving lives, our public health system can restore dignity, identity, and hope.
