Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), begins the process of evaluating the first-ever conjoined twins born within the region.

The two girls, joined at the chest and abdomen, are undergoing a series of tests to determine the next steps in their care.

The twins, born on Saturday, September 20, 2025, to 26-year-old teacher Anne Adhiambo, were delivered by Cesarean section at Ramula in Karachuoyo Sub-County Hospital in Homa Bay.

The twins’ condition, described as Thoracoabdominal-Omphalopagus, means they are joined from the nipple region down to their lower belly.

They were born at a combined weight of 4,200 grams after a gestation period of 36 weeks.

The infants, who also have Gastroschisis (a birth defect where intestines are outside the body), have already undergone an echocardiogram to evaluate their hearts. Further medical procedures, including NPO (nothing by mouth) and IV fluid administration, are part of the medical team’s plan to stabilize them.

For Mrs. Adhiambo, the journey has been a whirlwind of emotion and surprise. “I was so shocked,” she shared. “I had only seen this on TV and the internet, and now it was at my doorstep—my own babies.” A previous ultrasound had only indicated she was carrying one baby, making the news of twins, let alone conjoined ones, a profound shock.

Her long and complicated referral journey began at Kabondo Hospital after a nurse expressed concern about the baby’s position. This led to a series of visits to different facilities, with varying advice, before she finally underwent a C-section at Karachuoyo Sub-County Hospital, where the conjoined twins were delivered.

Mrs. Adhiambo, a primary school teacher and mother of a child born in 2019, is maintaining a positive outlook. Acknowledging the support of her husband, she said, “We have prayed and walked through this together. We will pull through. I am hoping for the best.”

The occurrence of conjoined twins is a rare and complex medical event, with a global estimated occurrence of only 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 250,000 live births. The team at JOOTRH now faces the task of planning for a potential separation surgery, a monumental undertaking that could set a new precedent for medical care in the region.