What began as a quiet Christmas evening nearly turned tragic for Caroline, a young mother from Thika, after her two-year-old son, Jaydeen, suddenly choked while eating groundnuts and drinking milk.
Although the immediate choking episode subsided, Jaydeen developed a persistent cough that refused to go away. Concerned that something was seriously wrong, Caroline sought medical attention, insisting on further checks despite initial reassurances.
Her persistence proved lifesaving.
Doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital later confirmed that Jaydeen had aspirated a groundnut into his airway — a dangerous condition that can easily be missed but can rapidly turn fatal if untreated. The toddler was placed under the care of a multidisciplinary medical team involving respiratory specialists, anaesthetists and nurses, and was closely monitored in the Intensive Care Unit.
A multidisciplinary team at Kenyatta National Hospital successfully carried out a bronchoscopy procedure to remove a foreign object from the lung of a two-year-old boy, Jayden, without surgery, on Monday, January 12, 2026.
According to the multidisciplinary team lead, Dr. Diana Marangu, a section of the child’s right lung was paralysed after food became lodged in his respiratory system.
Following a delicate procedure to remove the foreign object and days of careful observation, Jaydeen made a full recovery. Today, he is back to being a healthy, playful child.
Medical experts say the case underscores the importance of listening to caregivers, particularly parents who notice subtle but persistent symptoms in young children. It also serves as a stark reminder of the choking risks posed by small foods such as groundnuts, especially for children under the age of three.
“Many choking incidents do not look dramatic at first, but they can be deadly,” one clinician noted. “Persistent coughing after a choking episode should always be investigated.”
The successful outcome also highlighted the lifesaving impact of coordinated specialist care in emergency paediatric cases.
Meanwhile, at the same institution, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Kenyatta National Hospital, Dr Richard Lesiyampe, CBS, held a consultative meeting with youth drawn from the KNH Estate, signalling the hospital’s broader commitment to community engagement.
The meeting, held at the Research and Innovation Center Conference Hall, provided a platform for open dialogue on youth welfare, empowerment and the challenges young people face in their daily lives.
Dr Lesiyampe emphasized the importance of inclusivity, mentorship and the creation of sustainable opportunities for young people, noting that youth voices are critical in shaping responsive institutions and communities.
He also listened to concerns raised by the youth and encouraged them to actively participate in proposing solutions that foster growth, responsibility and innovation.
The twin developments — a child’s life saved through vigilance and expertise, and an institution opening its doors to youth dialogue — painted a picture of healthcare that goes beyond treatment, extending into prevention, empowerment and community partnership.
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