A 90-day public inquiry into alleged organ trafficking and malpractice at Mediheal Hospital kicks off today, marking a critical step in Kenya’s response to disturbing claims of unethical kidney transplant practices. The inquiry is spearheaded by the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health and follows a damning exposé by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), which implicated the facility in a suspected illegal kidney trade network.
In response to public outcry and mounting pressure, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale constituted a 13-member task force chaired by renowned public health expert Prof. Elizabeth Bukusi. The committee is tasked with conducting a comprehensive investigation into the allegations and scrutinizing the broader landscape of organ transplant services across the country.
Key among the committee’s mandates is a deep dive into the legal and regulatory frameworks governing organ and tissue transplants in Kenya. The team will assess compliance levels among all health facilities that offer transplant services, with Mediheal Hospital under particular scrutiny for allegedly bypassing ethical and legal protocols.
The task force is expected to engage with past organ donors, recipients, and medical professionals involved in transplants over the past five years. These interviews will help determine whether there have been instances of commercialisation, coercion, or violations of Kenya’s Human Tissue Act.
The probe comes amid explosive claims that kidneys were being harvested from vulnerable Kenyans at a price of Ksh 294,000, only to be sold abroad for up to Ksh 3.2 million raising concerns over the exploitation of poor citizens for profit in a shadowy international organ trade.
Public health advocates have welcomed the inquiry but called for swift action, noting that any delay in accountability could erode trust in Kenya’s healthcare system.
The findings of the task force could lead to sweeping reforms in Kenya’s transplant regulations and increased oversight of private health institutions. As the investigation unfolds, all eyes remain on the government to deliver justice for victims and restore integrity to the country’s medical sector.
