The History of Perioperative Theatre Technology in Kenya

Introduction to the histroy of POTTA Kenya:

Perioperative Technicians and Technologists Association of Kenya (POTTA Kenya) is the National Professional Body for Perioperative Technicians, Technologists and Perioperative Theatre Officers (PTOs). PTOs are degree holders in Perioperative Theatre Technology (POTT) courses, currently only available outside the country. This edition is divided into sub-sections: history of the cadre, the development of the national curricula & the birth & progress of POTTA Kenya.

1. THE HISTORY OF PERIOPERATIVE THEATRE TECHNOLOGY CADRE

Initially, there was no formalized & recognized curriculum by the government of Kenya for Perioperative techs. Those working in operating theatres as theatre technicians after undergoing internal courses had various workplace titles such as theatre technicians or theatre attendants, anaesthesia technicians or anaesthesia assistants or scrub technicians since there was no regulated professional titles. Training was left to hospitals or few colleges who did not use a national harmonized curriculum or guidelines. The training of these related workers in public referral hospitals such as Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital which had in-house training started as refresher training courses to capacity build their own staff. This later become a course for everybody to study for few months to one year before the government through TVET Authority stopped internally offered courses and urge colleges to offer courses through TVET CDACC, the government agency that develop curricula and awards certificates.

• THE FIRST NATIONAL CURRICULA for POTT COURSE

From 2015, development of the first National TVET Curricula was initiated by Kenya School of Medical Science and Technology, Thika through the guidance of a Sector Skills Advisory Committee appointed by TVET CDACC. A sector skills advisory committee was comprised of experts from established cadres – clinical officers anaesthetist, Surgeons, theatre nurses and a few co-opted theatre technicians from MP Shah and Aga Khan University Hospital. Initially, Operation Theatre Technology (OTT) was validated and approved by Stakeholders in December 2016. All the training institutions were guided to implement the new curricula for certificates and diploma levels. The list of these celebrated experts is attached for records in another segment of this history.

In 2019, the Sector Skills Advisory Committee guided the industry stakeholders under the coordination of TVET CDACC to review OTT into Perioperative Theatre Technology (POTT) for the same levels. POTT was accredited by TVET Authority in 2019. The Sector Skills Advisory Committee advised TVET Authority and TVET CDACC to withdraw OTT and implement only POTT from 2019. 

The list of the Sector Skills Advisory Committee will be shared on another segment.

• THE BIRTH OF POTTA KENYA

In August 2019, the initial quest to form POTTA Kenya was borne after two TVET Sector Skills Advisory Committee members (SSAC), namely Wycliffe Kijumba, a Senior Perioperative Technologist from MP Shah Hospital and Mr. Jamlick Gitonga Miriga, then from Outspan Medical College, paid a consultative visit to Dr. Guantai Lawrence, the the founding CEO, TVET CDACC (tvetcdacc.go.ge), at his office in Nairobi. The objective of the meeting was to forge the way forward for perioperative techs who would graduate after going through the TVET CDACC curricula. The founding CEO TVET CDACC advised that POTTs should form a professional body that carries the name of the profession as per TVET curriculum. The two SSAC members agreed and posted the news on the national POTT stakeholders’ group where other members invited the news with excitement and desire to form a union or professional body of their cadre. POTTA Kenya name was validated by the stakeholders.

The two officials formed a WhatsApp group to mobilize members from all public and private facilities.

In few days, we had POTTA Kenya 1 and 2 WhatsApp groups full of perioperative techs from across the country. Whose desires was burning for a professional and regulatory body for POTTs.

Members volunteered to manage the proceedings and preparations by registering with Ksh 500 per member, for the first Annual General Meeting that happened on 8^th December 2019, in Nairobi.

POTTA Kenya was officially formed by around 100 registered members from all parts of the country.

During this AGM, they elected national officials & few county reps.

THE FOUNDING POTTA KENYA NATIONAL OFFICIALS

1. Ms. Mary Wanjiru – National Chair – Mathare National Teaching & Referral Hospital;
2. Mr. Meshack Ojunga – Deputy National Chair – Aga Khan University Hospital;
3. Mr. Juma Absalom – Secretary General – Nairobi;
4. Ms. Mercy Muriuki. – Deputy Secretary General – Nanyuki;
5. Mr. Evans Wamalwa – National Treasurer – Aga Khan Univ. Hospital;
6. Ms. Judith Chepkorir – Deputy National Treasurer -Kapkatet Subcounty Hospital; Currently in Finland
7. Mr. Wycliffe Kijumba – National Organizing Secretary – MP Shah Hospital;
8. Mr. Jamlick Gitonga Miriga – Registrar – then as POTT trainer, Outspan Medical College; Currently at TVET CDACC (tvetcdacc.go.ke). and the Founding Patron of the Association of Medical Training Institutions of Kenya (AMTI – Kenya).
9. Mr. Dennis Oketch – founding Patron – Director, Tricent Colleges; Currently the President of Association of Medical Training Instituions of Kenya(AMTI – Kenya).

The 2029 AGM resolved to have the association registered and the continue mobilizing more members to join POTTA Kenya. The other key goal was to get licenses for POTTs.

• In June 2020, POTTA Kenya was registered by the Registrar of Societies of Kenya – Sheria House.
• In May 2021, POTTA Kenya reached out to the office of the PS Ministry of Health and various regulatory bodies including Nursing Council & KMPDC in the Ministry of Health to seeking official recognition as a healthcare cadre and license for perioperative techs.
• In 2021, Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (KHPOA) reached out to POTTA Kenya officials in response to the letter to the PS – MoH for recognition and licensing of POTTs.
• In 2022 the MoH through KHPOA Board gazette notice declared Perioperative Technicians and Technologists as recognized health cadres in Kenya and licensing of the same followed.
• Since 2019, POTTA Kenya has over 800+ registered members.
• In 2024, POTTA Kenya re-elected their current National leaders.

The Current POTTA Kenya National Officials including current places of work are;

1. Mr. Meshack Ojunga – National Chair – Aga Khan University Hospital;
2. Ms. Roseline Murugi – Deputy Chair – Uhai Uzima Hospital & Peepal MTC;

• Ms. Wycliffe Kijumba – Secretary General – MP Shah Hospital;
• Ms. Caroline Waigwa – Deputy Secretary General – Minoke Technical College;
• Ms. Julia Mugure – National Treasurer – Thika Level 5 Hosp, Kiambu County;
• Mr. Daniel Muchemi – Deputy National Treasurer – Outspan Hospital, Nyeri;
• Ms. Grace Nishila Karanja – National Organizing Secretary- Director, Greenhaven Health Centre:
• Jamlick Gitonga Miriga – Registrar – currently at TVET CDACC;
• Dennis Oketch – Founding Patron – Director, Tricent Colleges;

POTTA KENYA ACHIEVEMENTS AS AT NOVEMBER 2025

1. Recognition as among the Health cadres in Kenya by Director General of Health, MoH; 

2. Recognized as health profession and licensing of POTTs by KHPO Authority – MoH by Sept 2022;

2. Participated in various regulatory activities such as joint inspection of training institutions;

3. Developed for KHPOA a Scope of Practice for Peri-op Technicians and Technologists;

4. Developed hospital Practicals Rotations and guidelines for POTT training;

5. Advocacy through media & correspondences for POTTs employment and hospital placements – counties have employed: We continue to push for more;

6. Presented to KHPOA a comprehensive Career Development & Progression – Scheme of Service; currently awaiting final steps by Public Service Commission and stakeholders thru KHPOA Board;

7. Participated in modularization of POTT TVET CDACC curricula as per government directive

8. Presented to KHPO authority training and professional standards;

9. Development of CPD points provision protocol for POTTs;

10. POTT Harmony and unity among the members and stakeholders;