At least 50 Kenyans, who cannot afford the high fees necessary for specialised surgery, are set to receive free laparoscopic or minimally invasive procedures in Nairobi this January.
In a statement on Tuesday, January 6, the Ministry of Health (MoH) announced that the surgeries would be conducted by a team of highly experienced surgeons from Mumbai, India, led by Dr Mufazzal Lakdawalla.
The MoH stated that 50 key-hole operations, which are set to be absolutely free, are scheduled to take place between January 13 and 14, 2026.
A laparoscopic surgery, often called "keyhole surgery," is a minimally invasive technique used to examine or operate on organs inside the abdomen and pelvis.
During the procedure, one to three small incisions are made for specialised surgical tools, such as a camera-fitted tube, and graspers are fitted to perform internal procedures without major cuts.
The Ministry's statement read that the procedures will be carried out at Kenyatta National Hospital and Kenyatta University Teaching, Research, and Referral Hospital in Nairobi County.
This medical outreach is part of a wider visit by the Dawoodi Bohra Community's Spiritual Leader, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin.
His Holiness, the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq and the current spiritual and administrative leader of the global Dawoodi Bohra community, is expected to visit Nairobi from January 8 to January 18, 2026.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale held a consultative meeting with leaders of the Dawoodi Bohra Community on Tuesday to coordinate the exercise.
The Dawoodi Bohra delegation in Kenya was led by the community's Head Priest, Koserali Najmuddin, a nephew of the current al-Dai al-Mutlaq and grandson of the 51st al-Dai al-Mutlaq.
During the meeting, the delegation sought guidance on working within Kenya's clinical, professional, and regulatory frameworks while reaffirming its commitment to adhere to all directives issued by the Ministry of Health.
The visiting surgeons will, where possible, work alongside Kenyan medical professionals from the aforementioned facilities.
According to the Ministry, this cooperation and coordination would allow the transfer of expertise and strengthen local capacity in specialized care.
The Ministry of Health stated that the initiative supports its efforts to expand access to quality healthcare through partnerships under the Universal Health Coverage agenda, with Duale accompanied by Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth and Public Health Administration Secretary Adan Harakhe.
