SpeakersOur Scientific Committee

Dear Colleagues and Partners,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Kenya Cardiac Society Annual Congress 2026. From the 22nd to the 25th of July, the Pride Inn Convention Centre in Mombasa will serve as our intellectual home as we explore the theme, “Advancing Cardiovascular Care Through Continental Science.”

As Chair of the Scientific Committee, my focus is simple: to deliver a program that challenges, inspires, and equips you. The President has eloquently spoken to our collective vision. Allow me to speak to what you can expect in the lecture halls, the workshop rooms, and the corridors where the real exchange of ideas happens.

A Program Built by Africans, for Africa

When we began crafting this scientific program, we asked ourselves a fundamental question: What does a world-class cardiology congress look like when it is designed from an African perspective? The answer is the program before you.

We have deliberately moved beyond the traditional model where African congresses simply import content from the global North. Instead, we have built a program that places African data, African investigators, and African priorities at the center. From plenary sessions on the unique presentations of cardiomyopathy in our populations to debates on the optimal management of rheumatic heart disease given our surgical capacity constraints, every session has been designed with our reality in mind.

What You Will Experience

Over four days, we have curated a diverse scientific offering:

• Pre-Congress Workshops: We kick off on July 22nd with intensive, hands-on workshops. Whether you are a trainee seeking to master echocardiography, a researcher looking to navigate the complexities of grant writing, or a clinician wanting practical updates on Cardiac rehabilitation, these sessions are designed to build tangible skills you can take back to your institution.
• Plenary Sessions: Our main stage will feature thought leaders from across Africa and beyond, tackling the big questions facing our field. Expect robust debate, challenging perspectives, and evidence that speaks directly to our context.
• Parallel Tracks: We have organized sessions across multiple streams— cardiac surgery and pediatric cardiology —ensuring that whether your interest is clinical or academic, you will find sessions tailored to you.
• Abstract Presentations: The heart of any scientific meeting is the work of its members. We received a remarkable number of high-quality abstracts from across the continent. Our oral and poster sessions will showcase this work, and I encourage you to attend, engage, and celebrate the talent within our community.
• Networking and Collaboration: Some of the most important science happens in informal spaces. We have intentionally built networking breaks, social events, and dedicated collaboration sessions into the program to facilitate connections that will outlast this Congress.

A Call to Active Participation

A scientific congress is only as valuable as the engagement of its delegates. I urge you to do more than simply attend. Ask the difficult question after a presentation. Seek out the researcher whose work intrigues you. Share your own experiences, even the challenging ones, because it is through honest exchange that we learn.

To our young investigators and trainees: this is your Congress. The Scientific Committee has reserved dedicated spaces for you to present, to receive mentorship, and to connect with established leaders. Do not be shy. Your ideas and your energy are exactly what our field needs.

To our international colleagues who will have joined us: we are grateful for your presence. We invite you to listen as much as you speak, to learn from the richness of African science, and to leave with a deeper appreciation of the remarkable work happening across this continent.

Looking Ahead

The Scientific Committee has worked tirelessly over many months to bring this program to life. I extend my sincere gratitude to my fellow committee members, our faculty, our abstract reviewers, and our partners who have contributed their time and expertise. This is your Congress, and we have endeavored to make it worthy of your participation.

Let us come together with curiosity, openness, and a shared commitment to excellence. I look forward to the debates, the discoveries, and the friendships that will emerge over these four days.

Welcome to KCS 2026. Let the science begin.

Dr Helen Nguchu

Chair, Scientific Committee

Secretary KCS