The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) has marked a major milestone in its Cochlear Implant Surgery Program 2025, bringing renewed hope to children with profound hearing loss and their families.
On January 16, 2026, six children who underwent cochlear implant surgery in November successfully had their devices activated in a process known as: “switch-on.”
This critical stage marks the children’s first experience of sound and the beginning of tailored speech and auditory therapy to support communication development.
The program, which targeted children diagnosed with profound hearing loss, was made possible through the generous support of Rachel Ruto, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, and Princess Lalla Asmaa of Morocco, in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Social Health Authority.
Specialists involved in MTRH cochlear implant programme
The success of the switch-on was anchored on the expertise and dedication of MTRH’s multidisciplinary cochlear implant team, comprising surgeons, audiologists, speech therapists, nurses, and rehabilitation specialists.
Audiologists, including Angela Kiragu, led pre-implant assessments, device programming, and the switch-on process, while post-activation speech and language rehabilitation is being coordinated by speech therapist Selina Kibusi.
Dr. Owen Menach, Director of Surgical Services at MTRH and lead of the Cochlear Implant Surgical Team, noted that the initiative offers children the invaluable gift of sound and emphasized the hospital’s commitment to strengthening early screening, speech therapy, and long-term follow-up, with each child scheduled for continuous monitoring over the next three years.
MTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Philip Kirwa described the switch-on as a defining and transformative moment in the children’s lives.
“This is not just a medical achievement, but a life-changing milestone that restores hope and opens doors to communication, learning, and social inclusion,” he said.
Dr. Kirwa also reaffirmed MTRH’s commitment to advancing specialized care through strong partnerships with government and development partners, in line with the Universal Health Coverage agenda.
