Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is preparing to make medical history by performing the first craniofacial reconstruction surgery on a 7-year-old boy who was shot in the face.

The groundbreaking surgery is scheduled for September 25, 2025, as medics race against time to restore the young boy’s facial structure and function.

Ian Baraka, the young patient, was injured during clashes on December 23, 2023, at the Isiolo-Meru border, when bandits attacked villagers and a stray bullet struck him in the face. Since the incident, he has been under intensive care and has undergone significant rehabilitation to address injuries to his eyes and lower jaw.

Andrew Okiriamu, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at KNH, explained the complexity of Baraka’s injury and the careful planning required for his treatment.

“The bullet that went through his face came in through the lower part of the head; that was the injury that he got. The effect of that bullet consisted of injury to his eyes, for which he has undergone significant rehabilitation. The first thing we did when we received him, we stabilise him in our intensive care unit, we took him to the theatre, and did some stabilisation in his lower jaw. For the upper jaw, the team agreed we do a staged reconstruction, and the first phase of reconstruction means we have to give him patient-specific implants to allow him to grow,” he said.

The surgery will rely on cutting-edge 3D printing technology to produce a prosthetic designed specifically for Baraka. Margaret Mwasha, consultant prosthodontics at KNH, highlighted the importance of using the custom implant.

“The prosthetic has special characteristics to ensure that the bone will allow jaws to grow,” she said, emphasising that the technology is tailored to Baraka’s developing facial structure. Baraka’s treatment plan includes two implant surgical procedures using patient-specific implants before the definitive surgery, which will be carried out when he turns 18. This staged approach allows his bones to grow naturally and ensures the reconstruction will be successful in the long term.

If successful, Baraka will become the first child in the world to undergo craniofacial reconstructive surgery at such a young age, setting a new milestone in medical history. The procedure promises hope not only for Baraka but also for other children globally with similar injuries.