Parliament is moving closer to finalising the Transplant and Organ Donation Bill, aimed at creating a robust legal framework for organ donation and transplantation in Kenya. Speaking on Monday, November 10, Health Committee Chairperson and Seme MP James Nyikal said the bill is currently under review by the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
The proposed law will allow individuals to decide who receives their donated organs and seeks to increase the availability of organs for transplant. It also sets out strict rules and penalties to curb malpractice.
Nyikal’s comments came during a meeting between the National Assembly’s Health Committee and doctors from Mediheal Hospital, which has recently faced allegations of involvement in organ trafficking. MPs questioned Mediheal’s Chief Consultant Nephrologist Srinivas Murthy and hospital owner Swarup Mishra on the integrity of its kidney transplant programme, donor sourcing, and adherence to medical ethics.
Mediheal owner Swarup Mishra, who also served as Kesses MP, dismissed the claims, calling them “false statements” that had circulated on social media in 2018, 2019, and 2021. Mishra stressed that the hospital has consistently acted within Kenyan law and emphasized the importance of treating patients within Africa.
Similarly, Dr. Murthy defended the hospital, insisting that all transplants are conducted legally. He explained that Kenya only allows live kidney donations from willing relatives or close acquaintances, unlike countries such as India or the United States, which operate government-regulated deceased donor programmes.
“The absence of a deceased donor framework continues to disadvantage patients who lack suitable living donors,” Murthy noted. He added that many patients arrive before starting dialysis, and the hospital provides necessary counselling and dialysis before transplantation.
The Health Committee’s engagement with Mediheal highlights the urgent need for clear legal structures to safeguard organ donation practices while increasing access for patients in need. The finalisation of the Organ Donation Bill could mark a significant milestone in Kenya’s healthcare landscape.
