As part of a humanitarian partnership between the Voice of Children Foundation Kenya, chaired by First Lady Rachel Ruto, and the Lalla Asmaa Foundation of Morocco, led by Princess Lalla Asmaa, Kenya and Morocco have launched a cochlear implant program valued at over 120 million Kenyan shillings. Aimed at restoring hearing for dozens of children suffering from profound deafness, the program includes the provision of implants, the performance of some surgical procedures, ongoing training for medical teams, and comprehensive post-operative follow-up to ensure auditory rehabilitation and the school integration of the young beneficiaries.
Kenya and Morocco have joined forces to offer a new lease on life to children with profound deafness. The two countries have launched an ambitious cochlear implant program valued at over USD 928,000. This humanitarian and medical initiative is spearheaded by the Voice of Children Foundation Kenya, chaired by First Lady Rachel Ruto, and the Lalla Asmaa Foundation of Morocco, led by Princess Lalla Asmaa.
Under the protocol signed between the two foundations, Morocco will provide the implants, carry out part of the surgical procedures, and train Kenyan medical teams. The first operations will begin at Kenyatta National Hospital before continuing in Morocco in early 2026. Post-operative care and auditory rehabilitation are planned to ensure the full school integration of the young patients.
This partnership highlights the vitality of South-South cooperation in Africa, a model of solidarity combining skills transfer, medical innovation, and investment in human capital. In Kenya, hearing disorders affect nearly 4,800 children per 100,000, according to national data from 2021, underscoring the urgency and importance of this continental program.
