Willis Raburu and gastric bypass: why he chose to talk about it

What did Willis Raburu say about his gastric bypass?

Raburu spoke to Citizen Digital in August 2022. His main point was not the operation itself but the silence around it: “I would like to debunk the fact that weight loss treatment is like almost taboo in this country yet it's so effective. And insurance companies can help facilitate it, it's a journey towards a healthier nation.”

In an interview quoted by Tuko News he described how he reached the decision. He said he respected people who go to the gym and had worked with amazing trainers, but the weight he lost kept coming back: “By the time I was actually going for the surgery, I was not doing well. I needed it because also my pressure was high, my cholesterol was also high and it was a matter of now needing to take care of my health.” He said his weight had reached 164 kg.

That is everything we rely on. Raburu named the procedure, gastric bypass, and his reasons. He did not go into surgical details, so this article does not guess at them: where the text below explains techniques and timelines, it describes bariatric surgery in general, not his treatment.

Why his openness matters

Raburu put his finger on a real problem. Many people with severe obesity have tried diets, trainers and gyms for years, lost weight and regained it, and still hear that the answer is simply “more discipline”. He answered that directly: “You have to love yourself enough to know that you need help, and there's no shame in it.”

Obesity with high blood pressure and high cholesterol is a medical condition, and bariatric surgery is one of the recognised treatments for it. It is not a shortcut and not a cosmetic procedure. By speaking about it on the record, a well-known presenter made it easier for others to raise the subject with a doctor rather than keep it to themselves.

How a gastric bypass is done today

Modern bariatric operations are performed laparoscopically, through a few small punctures in the abdomen rather than one large incision. In a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass the surgeon creates a small stomach pouch and connects it directly to a loop of the small intestine, so food bypasses most of the stomach and the first part of the intestine. Patients feel full sooner and absorb fewer calories. The bypass is one of four procedures commonly compared at a consultation:

The bypass is often called the gold standard when weight is combined with type 2 diabetes. The trade-off is that vitamins and minerals must be taken for life, because part of the intestine no longer absorbs nutrients in the usual way.

Who is a candidate and how to prepare

Bariatric surgery is usually considered with a BMI above 40, or above 35 when there are serious related conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes; sometimes a lower threshold is discussed when non-surgical approaches have failed. Preparation is thorough:

• blood and urine tests, biochemistry, HbA1c and a coagulation panel;
• assessments by a GP, endocrinologist, cardiologist and psychiatrist, and a gynaecologist for women;
• cutting fast carbohydrates and fats for two to four weeks before surgery;
• stopping smoking at least a month in advance.

The psychological assessment is not a formality. As Raburu's own words suggest, the operation changes how much you can eat, and the habits around food have to change with it.

Recovery after a gastric bypass

Patients are up and walking on the first day and typically stay in hospital for one to five days. Office work is usually possible after two to four weeks; physical work after about six weeks. Food is reintroduced in stages over one to two months, from liquids to soft food to normal textures. Swimming is allowed after about 30 days, and long journeys are best planned no earlier than a month after surgery. Weight loss continues for a long time: the final result is usually assessed after one and a half to two years. The timeline below shows the usual stages.

1. Day of surgeryLaparoscopic operation under general anaesthesia through a few small punctures.
2. Day 1You get up and start walking; early movement is part of the recovery plan.
3. Days 1–5Hospital stay, depending on the procedure and how you feel.
4. Weeks 2–4Return to office work; the diet moves from liquids to soft food.
5. Month 1–2Gradual return to normal textures; swimming and travel become possible.
6. Months 18–24Weight loss levels off and the final result is assessed. Vitamins continue for life.

Gastric bypass at City Medical Centre

City Medical Centre performs sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass and SADI-S, all laparoscopically through four small punctures of 5–15 mm. A gastric bypass costs $4,000 and a sleeve gastrectomy $3,600. The first consultation with the surgeon is free and can be held online for patients from other countries; the price named after the assessment is fixed in the contract. A personal coordinator guides the patient from the first message through recovery, and the medical team follows up during the first year. Details are on the bariatric surgery page.

City Medical Centre has no connection with Willis Raburu or his treatment. His story is included here because he chose to speak about weight-loss surgery publicly and without shame.

Frequently asked questions

What operation did Willis Raburu have?

He said publicly in August 2022 that he had a gastric bypass. He explained that he had lost and regained weight many times with trainers and that high blood pressure and high cholesterol made him decide to treat his weight surgically.

Why did Willis Raburu talk about his surgery?

He said he wanted to challenge the idea that weight-loss treatment is taboo, and that people should love themselves enough to ask for help without shame.

Is a gastric bypass the same as a gastric sleeve?

No. A sleeve removes most of the stomach and leaves a narrow tube; a bypass creates a small pouch and connects it to the small intestine. The bypass usually gives greater weight loss but requires lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements.

How much does a gastric bypass cost at City Medical Centre?

A gastric bypass costs $4,000 and a sleeve gastrectomy $3,600. The first consultation is free, and the final price is fixed in the contract after the assessment.

When can I return to work after a gastric bypass?

Most patients return to office work after two to four weeks. Physical work usually has to wait about six weeks.