NAIROBI, Kenya – The parents of an infant boy from Kisii County are making a desperate public appeal for assistance after a critical surgical procedure to correct a life-threatening urinary blockage was stalled at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) due to an allegedly broken machine. The case of Baby Liam sheds light on the devastating personal consequences of equipment failure within Kenya's premier public healthcare facility.

Baby Liam was initially treated for jaundice at the Kisii University Teaching and Referral Hospital (KUTRH) shortly after his birth, according to his father, Samuel. After a brief recovery at home, the infant's condition took a dire turn. "Two weeks later, he was unable to pass urine, and his stomach started swelling," his father recounted in a widely circulated TikTok post. The family was referred to KNH in Nairobi for specialized care.

At KNH, tests revealed a complex set of problems, including kidney issues, cystitis (inflammation of the bladder), and other renal complications. Doctors performed a temporary procedure to allow urine to pass, which involved creating an opening in his stomach, a measure to stabilize him while awaiting definitive surgery. However, the family's hopes were dashed when they were informed that the corrective operation could not proceed. "We stayed there for two months, and he was supposed to be there to correct the problem, but the machine had broken down," Samuel stated. The family was subsequently sent home to await notification of the machine's repair, a call that has yet to come.

A Pattern of Equipment Failure

While KNH has not released an official statement regarding the specific pediatric urology machine, the family's claim aligns with a documented pattern of equipment breakdowns at the facility. In May 2025, the hospital confirmed the failure of its only Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machine, a vital device for cancer radiotherapy, forcing patients to be referred to other private and public facilities. A similar breakdown of a radiotherapy machine was reported in May 2024. Furthermore, a September 2025 report to the Senate highlighted broader issues, with claims that essential services like CT scans and dialysis were often unavailable or defective, compelling patients to seek expensive care in the private sector.

These recurrent failures in critical medical infrastructure raise serious questions about maintenance protocols, procurement delays, and the overall strain on the national referral hospital, which serves millions of Kenyans from across the country.

The Medical Challenge: Infant Urinary Blockage

Baby Liam's symptoms are consistent with conditions like Posterior Uthral Valves (PUV), a leading cause of bladder outlet obstruction in male infants. This congenital condition involves obstructive flaps of tissue in the urethra that hinder or block the flow of urine. If not corrected promptly, the back-pressure of urine can cause severe and irreversible damage to the bladder and kidneys, leading to chronic kidney disease. Studies conducted in Kenya have shown that delayed intervention in PUV cases is a significant problem, often leading to poor long-term outcomes for children.

The surgical correction for such conditions is a delicate, minimally invasive procedure that relies on specialized pediatric endoscopic equipment, such as a pediatric cystoscope or resectoscope. These instruments allow surgeons to view the urinary tract and resect the obstructive tissue without large incisions. The unavailability of such specific, and often fragile, equipment can bring these essential pediatric surgeries to a complete halt.

A Family's Plea and the Broader Implications

For Baby Liam's family, the situation is a daily struggle. The temporary solution is not a permanent fix, and the risk of complications grows with each passing day. Their public appeal underscores a painful reality for many Kenyans navigating the public health system: even when specialized medical expertise is available, the lack of functional equipment can become an insurmountable barrier to life-saving care.

The case puts a human face to the systemic issues plaguing Kenya's health sector. While facilities like Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH) and private hospitals offer pediatric surgical services, the cost is often prohibitive for ordinary families who rely on the more affordable care at KNH. As Baby Liam waits, his family's plea is not just for their son, but a call for a more reliable and resilient public healthcare system that can provide timely and effective care for its most vulnerable patients. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED into the specific status of the pediatric surgical equipment at KNH.