By Mumo Judah, Kiambu, June 2, 2026
Kiambu County has officially launched an advanced digital surgery and telemedicine platform at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital, marking a significant leap in Kenya’s adoption of smart healthcare systems and positioning the county as an emerging hub for virtual surgical support in the region.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi presided over the commissioning of the system during a live demonstration that featured a Caesarean section performed at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital’s operating theatre, while being remotely monitored in real time by specialists stationed at the county headquarters, Thika Level 5 Hospital, and in the United Kingdom.
The groundbreaking procedure marked the first operational use of the county’s telemedicine surgery platform, which enables real-time collaboration between local surgeons and international medical experts without the need for physical presence.
At the core of the system is Proximie, a cloud-based digital health platform that allows operating theatres to transmit secure, high-definition live surgical feeds to remote specialists. The system enables real-time interaction during procedures, including digital annotations, visual guidance overlays and immediate second-opinion consultations, effectively transforming how complex surgeries are conducted in public hospitals.
According to health officials, the platform is designed to enhance surgical precision, improve decision-making and strengthen training for local medical professionals through direct exposure to global expertise during live operations. All procedures are securely encrypted and stored, creating a growing digital archive that will support medical training, auditing and research across the county health system.
The live broadcast of the Caesarean section was simultaneously observed from multiple points, including Thika Level 5 Hospital and the county headquarters, with specialist input provided by medical experts based in the United Kingdom, reflecting the system’s global connectivity capabilities.
Governor Wamatangi described the development as a transformative step in addressing long-standing challenges in Kenya’s public healthcare system, particularly the shortage of specialist doctors in county hospitals.
Health officials note that Kenya continues to face a low doctor-to-patient ratio, estimated at about 19 doctors per 100,000 people, a gap that has contributed to delays in specialized treatment and referrals to major national facilities.
The telemedicine system is expected to ease pressure on referral hospitals such as Kenyatta National Hospital by enabling complex procedures to be supported remotely at county level facilities, reducing patient transfer costs and waiting times while improving access to specialist care.
The platform also allows for cross-hospital collaboration within Kiambu County, enabling medical teams at Thika Level 5 Hospital and other facilities to engage in peer review, share expertise and improve clinical accountability across the healthcare system.
Officials further highlighted the financial and social benefits for patients, noting that the system reduces the need for long-distance travel in search of specialist consultations, particularly for low-income households who often bear high costs when seeking advanced medical care outside their home counties.
The digital surgery initiative forms part of a broader KSh5.1 billion healthcare modernization programme being implemented by the Kiambu County Government. The programme includes expansion of digital health systems, infrastructure development and increased access to primary and secondary healthcare services.
According to county officials, approximately 80 per cent of the integrated electronic health information system linking community health units to Level 3, 4 and 5 facilities has already been completed, strengthening data sharing and patient tracking across the healthcare network.
In addition, the county is in the process of constructing and upgrading 32 health facilities, including six Level 4 hospitals and 26 Level 3 centres, aimed at expanding healthcare coverage and improving service delivery at the grassroots level.
Kiambu is also piloting an AI-assisted clinical decision support system at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital, designed to provide doctors with real-time, evidence-based guidance aligned with Ministry of Health protocols.
Health experts say the integration of telemedicine, artificial intelligence and digital health records represents a major shift toward a more connected and efficient healthcare system, with Kiambu positioning itself at the forefront of this transformation in Kenya’s devolved health sector.
