Dr. David Silverstein: How he became Moi’s doctor and the ‘Operation Thunderbolt’ moment

President William Ruto and KANU Chairman Gideon Moi have eulogized renowned American cardiologist Dr. David Silverstein, who died on Sunday aged 82.

The American doctor found a second home in Kenya, and his profession exposed him to power, witnessing events that shaped the Kenyatta and Moi presidencies in the course of his 52-year career in Kenya.

Dr. David Silverstein was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Norman Silverstein and Sarah Peshe Khan from Poland, who migrated to the United States in the 1920s.

After finishing his cardiology fellowship in June 1974, Dr. Silverstein applied for a teaching position at the University of Nairobi’s School of Medicine, living in the capital’s neighborhood of Milimani, becoming a tenant of the late President Mwai Kibaki, then Finance Minister.

After setting up shop in Kenya, in 1977 Dr. Silverstein was made chief cardiothoracic physician for the government and granted admission rights at Nairobi Hospital a year later in 1978.

Five years later, and nine years since settling in Kenya, Dr. Silverstein was appointed President Moi’s personal physician, after the President’s then personal physician Antonia Bagshawe migrated to Australia.

According to the letter announcing his appointment, signed by then Head of Civil Service Jeremiah Kiereini, Dr. Silverstein was on a monthly honorarium of Ksh4,000.

Until his passing in 2020, Dr. Silverstein remained President Moi’s physician, extending the friendship beyond the sphere of political power into witnessing major state decisions.

These included Operation Thunderbolt, in which Kenya secretly supported Israel in rescuing hostages during the 1976 Entebbe raid, recalling how Attorney General Charles Njonjo convinced a reluctant President Jomo Kenyatta, who, according to Dr. Silverstein told Njonjo, "Do what you see fit Njonjo, but I warn you, you are on your own. I have no knowledge of this matter if it leaks.”

The 1999 fatal cardiac arrest that killed then Chief Justice Zacchaeus Chesoni nearly ended his career.

Following claims of medical negligence made by Dr. John Matseshe, Chesoni’s cousin, a sixteen-member tribunal chaired by Julius Kyambi absolved Dr. Silverstein in 2000.

President William Ruto eulogized Dr. Silverstein as a distinguished medical professional, a towering figure with a significant contribution to the advancement of medicine, particularly cardiology, who touched countless lives and helped shape the practice of modern medicine in Kenya.

“Dr. Silverstein leaves behind a distinguished legacy of service to our nation. His pioneering contribution to the advancement of medicine, particularly cardiology, touched countless lives and helped shape the practice of modern medicine in Kenya,” he said.

KANU Chairman Gideon Moi eulogized Dr. Silverstein as full of empathy, to whom Mzee Moi was beyond a client and who took time to listen to the former President, compassion he extended to everyone under his care.

“Dr. Silverstein left a lasting impression and was full of empathy. To Mzee Moi, he was not only a client; he took time to listen, compassion he extended to everyone under his care,” he said.

A doctor to his professional peers, a Rosh Kehillah to the Jewish Community in Kenya, a father, husband, and a grandfather.