KNH Responds after Patient Questions Whereabouts of Kidney Donated by Brother: "Was Not Viable"
- A kidney transplant at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) faced complications leading to the removal of the donated organ
- The patient, diagnosed with kidney failure, is continuing treatment with regular dialysis after the setback
- KNH reported a high success rate in kidney transplants despite this rare medical complication
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TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Nairobi: A kidney transplant at Kenyatta National Hospital took an unexpected turn when the donated organ reportedly failed to function.
Source: UGC
The patient, Zamzam Hassan, received a kidney from her brother Mohammed Rashid, only for the transplant to fail under mysterious circumstances.
The family recorded a statement at Capitol Hill Police Station on August 10, demanding an explanation from the facility.
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In a statement released on Monday, August 11, KNH addressed the concerns raised about the donated kidney.
What did KNH say about missing kidney?
The hospital confirmed the patient was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2022 and had been undergoing haemodialysis at a private facility before joining KNH’s transplant programme.
From August 2024, the patient and her brother started attending the hospital’s transplant clinic. They underwent professional counselling, thorough clinical assessments, and multidisciplinary evaluations to prepare for the surgery.
Both were admitted to the Transplant Unit on February 12, for the planned procedure.
However, the operation did not go as expected. According to KNH, after surgery, the transplanted kidney failed to start functioning.
"Following international medical protocol, doctors returned the patient to theatre for assessment and upon finding the kidney was not viable, they removed it to protect her health," the statement read in part.
Why was the transplanted kidney removed?
Laboratory tests later confirmed that a blood clot had formed in the kidney, a rare but recognised complication in kidney transplants.
The donor recovered without issues and was discharged with routine follow-up care. The patient resumed dialysis and was discharged on March 5, with instructions to maintain regular follow-ups.
Source: Getty Images
KNH shared that during the 2024–2025 financial year, the hospital performed 22 kidney transplants, 21 of which were successful.
“While this complication is uncommon, occurring in up to 8% of cases worldwide, it is a known medical risk in kidney transplantation,” the hospital noted.
The national referral hospital expressed understanding and support for the affected family.
“We understand the disappointment and frustration of the family and remain available to offer further clarification. We remain committed to delivering quality, specialised healthcare to all our patients,” said William Sigilai, who signed the release on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer.
Was a patient murdered at Kenyatta National Hospital?
This comes just days after a male patient was found dead inside a ward at KNH. The body was discovered soaked in blood on the afternoon of July 17, prompting immediate action by hospital officials.
The hospital’s chief executive confirmed the death but did not disclose details about what happened.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was notified and launched a probe into the suspected murder, with the hospital extending condolences to the family.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
