First Lady Rachel Ruto and Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa of Morocco have launched a groundbreaking cochlear implant partnership at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). The initiative aims to transform the lives of children suffering from severe hearing loss through life-changing surgeries.
The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding between the Voice of Children initiative under the Office of the First Lady and the Princess Lalla Asmaa Foundation, will facilitate 100 cochlear implant surgeries. Seventy surgeries are scheduled to take place this week in Nairobi, while the remaining thirty will be conducted in Morocco early next year.
Each cochlear implant is valued at approximately Sh4 million, with the total donation exceeding Sh120 million. The program targets children aged between one and ten years who have not benefited from conventional hearing aids. These implants are surgically fitted devices designed to restore a sense of hearing, enabling recipients to perceive sound and speech more naturally.
Rachel Ruto expressed her gratitude to Princess Asmaa for the generous donation, describing it as a “gift of life and sound.” She emphasized that the initiative restores dignity and hope to children, allowing them to experience the joy of communication, laughter, and music for the first time.
The First Lady further highlighted that the State Health Agency (SHA) will fully cover the cost of the surgeries and post-surgery therapies, ensuring that no family bears the financial burden. She described the collaboration as a strong testament to the growing friendship between Kenya and the Kingdom of Morocco, adding that it represents a commitment to building a more inclusive healthcare system.
Princess Asmaa’s foundation has supported similar humanitarian efforts across Africa. The foundation’s president, Karim Essakalli, reaffirmed the Princess’s dedication to improving the lives of children and fostering international cooperation through health initiatives.
Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale and Hannah Cheptumo, alongside other senior officials, attended the launch. Duale commended Morocco for donating 70 cochlear implants, calling it a remarkable milestone in Kenya’s journey toward inclusive healthcare. He also pledged that the Ministry of Health will continue strengthening ear and hearing care services as part of the country’s Universal Health Coverage agenda.
