NAIROBI — In a quiet surgical theatre at Kenyatta National Hospital, a team of Kenyan and international doctors did something no one else has ever done. They gave a young man the sensation of touch in an arm that no longer exists.
On April 29, 22-year-old Moses Mwendwa, a university student studying software engineering, became the first person in the world to undergo a transhumeral targeted sensory reinnervation (TSR) surgery. The procedure reconnected nerves in his amputated upper arm to help him feel once more — even without a limb.
“It’s magic,” Mwendwa said, softly, at a press briefing after the operation. “Feeling my hand again, even when it’s not there, is like getting a part of myself back.”
A Fall, a Loss, and a Second Chance
Mwendwa’s journey began in January. A simple fall down the stairs after a church service in Nairobi’s Ziwani neighbourhood led to a rare and dangerous condition known as compartment syndrome. Pressure built up in the muscles of his left arm, cutting off circulation. By the time he was rushed to KNH — after failed diagnoses at two other facilities — it was too late. Doctors had to amputate the arm to save his life.
The date was January 24.
“He had lost his dominant arm,” said Dr Benjamin Wabwire, head of plastic and reconstructive surgery at KNH. “The emotional toll was enormous — not just for him, but for his family.”
For weeks, Mwendwa grieved. Then, he was selected for a first-of-its-kind TSR surgery, hosted during KNH’s TSR medical camp — the first in Africa.
Rewiring Touch
The operation took seven hours. Leading it was Prof Ferdinand Nang’ole of KNH and the University of Nairobi, alongside Dr Wabwire and visiting Italian surgeon Prof Alexander Gardetto. The trio was supported by local residents and consultants, all working in delicate coordination.
The procedure, in essence, rerouted Mwendwa’s remaining nerves — those once connected to his hand — to new targets in his upper arm. Over time, the brain learns to associate these new nerve endings with the missing limb. Touching those points can feel like touching the absent hand. It is, quite literally, a neural trick.
“It’s not just science,” said Dr Wabwire. “It’s restoring dignity and hope. That’s the real breakthrough.”
Global First, Local Pride
KNH, Kenya’s oldest and largest referral hospital, confirmed the feat on Monday. “We’ve performed the world’s first transhumeral TSR surgery. This isn’t just a headline for Kenya. It’s a milestone for global medicine,” the hospital said in a statement.
CEO Dr Evanson Kamuri praised the entire team. “This proves that African institutions can lead in complex, world-class medical innovation,” he said. “We are not just participants in global health — we are shaping it.”
The team is now closely monitoring Mwendwa’s recovery. In the months ahead, he is expected to begin training with an advanced prosthetic that will respond not just to motion, but to sensation.
“By creating this neural map,” said Wabwire, “we are redefining what’s possible for amputees.”
The Road Ahead
For Mwendwa, the path remains long. But something vital has returned — not just a sense of touch, but a sense of self.
“I want to build software that helps others like me,” he said. “This isn’t the end. It’s the beginning.”
