The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is preparing to perform a world-first facial reconstruction surgery on a seven-year-old boy who survived a bandit attack in Northern Kenya.
The groundbreaking procedure, scheduled for September 25, 2025, will seek to restore both function and appearance using patient-specific implants—technology never before attempted on a growing child.
The patient, Ian Baraka, was six years old when he sustained devastating injuries after being shot in the face during a bandit attack in December 2023.
He was rushed to KNH, where doctors stabilized him in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before carrying out preliminary surgical interventions for at least 18 months.
When he was brought to the Kenyatta National Hospital last year, his face was still completely disfigured. He had been stabilized at the Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital, but he still could not feed or breathe on his own.
Kenyatta Hospital Gears Up for its Facial Reconstruction on 7-Year-Old Boy
During a press briefing on Thursday, September 12, KNH Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. Andrew Okiriamu explained the complexity of Ian’s injuries.
He said the bullet passed through the lower part of the boy’s face, exited through the anterior, and also damaged his eyes.
“Considering his age, six years, we need to reconstruct his face. However, since he is still a growing child, heavy reconstruction procedures cannot be done at this point. The team therefore agreed to perform staged reconstructions for him,” he said.
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Dr. Okiriamu revealed that while surgeons had managed to stabilise Ian’s lower jaw, his upper jaw posed a greater challenge. He added that the first phase will involve patient-specific implants designed to expand with Ian’s growth.
Okiriamu said that the surgery will involve a collaboration between two disciplines in dentistry.
He will undergo maxillofacial surgery to restore the aesthetic side of his face and jaw structure, as well as the maxillofacial prosthetic dentistry aspect, which involves replacing the missing facial structures, such as the nose and lips.
“It was not a very easy case to make quick decisions on how we were going to proceed. We had to sit as a multidisciplinary team; including the ophthalmology team (eye specialists), plastic surgery team, ENT team (Ear nose and Throat team) as well as oral and maxillofacial surgeons in collaboration with the University of Nairobi Dental School,” he stated.
“The first phase of reconstruction will involve giving him what we call patient-specific implants, which will allow him to grow. This is a revolutionary treatment because it has not been done in our setup before, especially for a growing child.”
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KNH to Use Titanium Implants
Dr. Margaret Mwasha, KNH Consultant Prosthodontist, elaborated on the implants, noting that they are made of titanium alloy—a material highly compatible with human tissue.
The implants will come in two pieces: one to support the teeth and another to support the nose and lip. A green surgical guide will ensure precise placement.
Maxillofacial surgeons will oversee the placement to ensure the implants sit securely on the bone, enabling normal function while supporting facial structure.
The implants are designed to allow bone growth around them, ensuring long-term stability.
KNH Board Chair Abbas Gullet praised the medical team for their dedication. “We want to review such cases and encourage these doctors, who are eager to take on the challenge. On the 25th of this month, they will proceed with the surgery on young Ian,” he said.
“It will take time and be challenging, but the team has embraced it, believing they can succeed in a procedure that has never been done anywhere in the world.”
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