Nairobi Governor Sonko's Move to 'Import' Indian Surgeons Infuriates Kenyans

The move by Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko to 'import' surgeons from India to conduct kidney transplant at Nairobi's Mbagathi Hospital has infuriated Kenyans on social media

In a tweet on Monday morning, the Governor announced that Mbagathi hospital would now begin carrying out Kidney transplant, but it was the move to invite Indian surgeons to 'train' Kenyans doctors on the surgical procedure that left Kenyans furious.

Sonko tweeted: "A visit by county officials to Mbagathi Hospital where the first kidney transplant will take place this week. Lead surgeons from India will train local doctors so that they can carry on with the operations.”

However, Kenyans who reacted to Sonko's post on Twitter questioned why he invited the medics from the Asian country, when Kenyan doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital have carried several successful Kidney transplants in the past.

Dave Nyagah commented:" Mr Governor, Kenyatta National Hospital has performed many successful kidney transplants for over an year now . The nephrologists and nurses in this hospital have gotten their education and training from Nairobi University , Spain and other leading institutions. I do not know of any who has trained in India."

Neemah Grace asked: "Why from India to teach Kenyan doctors yet in Kenya we already have nephrologists who are already performing the transplant and are very competent."

Sheila Eshiwani Njoroge wondered: "Why Indian Doctors??? Our KNH doctors. Have comfortably been performing kidney transplants..... And have been successful."

@LukoyeAtwoli replied:"Doctors from @MoiMedicine and @MTRHofficial could train Mbagathi Hospital staff to do this as well. We’ve been doing Kidney transplants for a while now."

@DrMercyKorir said: “Why lead surgeons from India yet we have competent Kenyan surgeons (urologists) who have been doing kidney transplants in this country for many years?”

@origen_ii ,noted: “Welcome to Kidney Disease in Kenya… Sonko is saying it’s the first kidney transplant at Mbagathi Hospital, Not in Kenya. FYI Kenya only carried out 35 kidney transplants last year, so this is good progress. We just need better health facility standards.”