The Jewish doctor from Chicago who became the confidant of Kenya's president

Dr. David Morton Silverstein, an American Jewish cardiologist who arrived in Kenya over five decades ago, has passed away at the age of 82. Silverstein became the personal physician of former Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi and the leader of the Jewish community in Nairobi. He is considered a pioneer of cardiology in Kenya and trained generations of doctors.

Dr. David Morton Silverstein, an American Jewish cardiologist born in Chicago, passed away today at the age of 82. Silverstein arrived in Kenya in 1974 after serving in the US Air Force in Vietnam and completing his cardiology fellowship, becoming one of the most beloved figures in the country. He is considered a pioneer of cardiology in Kenya, worked at Kenyatta National Hospital, and helped develop cardiology services in the country. In 1977, he met Daniel arap Moi, then Vice President, and became his personal physician for over four decades, until Moi's death in 2020. Silverstein served as the leader of the small Jewish community in Nairobi during periods when there was no rabbi. He accompanied Moi on visits to Israel, and at his funeral recited a prayer in Hebrew. In 2023, he published his memoir "Heartbeat: An American Cardiologist in Kenya."

The Jewish doctor from Chicago who became the confidant of Kenya's president