{
  "id": 18682492,
  "title": "Natembeya hits back at ‘Shakahola’ tag after complex spinal surgeries at Wamalwa Kijana Hospital",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/natembeya-hits-back-at-shakahola-tag-after-complex-spinal-surgeries",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T09:39:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Capital FM Kenya",
    "slug": "capital-fm-kenya",
    "url": "https://capitalfm.africa/natembeya-hits-back-at-shakahola-tag-after-complex-spinal-surgeries-at-wamalwa-kijana-hospital/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has responded to the hospital’s “Shakahola” label by highlighting the hospital’s recent success in complex spinal and orthopedic surgeries. Natembeya stated that the Kitale-based hospital had recently performed two intricate spinal operations on young individuals injured in distinct vehicle collisions, alongside a knee joint replacement on an elderly patient.\n\nThe procedures included a Posterior Instrumented Fusion on a 21-year-old male who had suffered a spinal injury during a road traffic incident. Natembeya also reported that the hospital executed a Cervical Lateral Mass Screw Fixation on an 18-year-old female patient who sustained a cervical spine injury in a similar accident. On Wednesday, surgeons conducted a Cemented Total Knee Arthroplasty on a 71-year-old woman suffering from osteoarthritis for around three years.\n\nTaking a firm stance against critics who continue to refer to the hospital as “Shakahola,” Natembeya emphasized his administration's steadfast dedication to delivering high-quality medical care. The governor, alongside his qualified medical team, vowed to maintain a safe environment for patients. Natembeya's administration has been actively working to demonstrate improvements in specialized healthcare delivery at the facility, with these successful surgical procedures serving as a testament to their commitment.",
  "summary": "NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 7-Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has defended Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital against its controversial “Shakahola” tag, citing successful specialized spinal and orthopaedic surgeries as evidence…",
  "key_points": [
    "Governor Natembeya rejects \"Shakahola\" label.",
    "Hospital performed complex spinal surgeries.",
    "Procedures include two recent successful operations."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}