Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has strongly condemned alleged organ trafficking activities at Mediheal Hospital, calling out his own ministry’s leadership for inaction during the unfolding scandal in Eldoret.
In a video widely shared on social media, Duale questioned how such a serious matter was allowed to happen without any intervention. “Where was the leadership when somebody was doing organ trafficking in Eldoret?” he asked, expressing outrage at what he described as a deeply troubling and immoral practice. “It’s very sad and very poor,” he added.
Duale revealed that the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) had knowledge of the situation, raising questions about oversight and accountability within the health system. He announced the formation of a committee of medical and legal experts to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure that those responsible face justice.
His remarks come as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) intensifies its inquiry into the alleged human organ trafficking at Mediheal’s Fertility and Transplant Centre. The DCI’s Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) is leading the investigation and has appealed to the public for information. “We are committed to a thorough investigation to ensure justice for all parties involved,” the DCI stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The controversy has also prompted action from the National Assembly’s Health Committee, which has launched its own probe into Mediheal’s operations. The committee has 80 days to establish whether the hospital followed professional and ethical standards.
President William Ruto has since suspended Dr. Swarup Mishra, the chairperson of the Kenya BioVax Institute, to allow the investigation to proceed without interference. Mishra is also the founder of the Mediheal Group of Hospitals.
In response to the growing scrutiny, Mediheal has denied any wrongdoing. In an interview with Spice FM on April 16, the hospital’s Vice President Maryline Limo stated that Mediheal “strictly adheres to legal guidelines and procedures.” She emphasized that the hospital does not source or select donors but only performs transplants for patients who arrive with their own willing donors.
The controversy stems from a report by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), which uncovered claims by kidney donors who alleged they were misled and underpaid. Limo acknowledged that verifying relationships between donors and recipients is sometimes challenging, but said the hospital depends on sworn affidavits for verification.
Mediheal has since launched an internal investigation to identify individuals involved in any illegal activity related to transplants.
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