NAIROBI, Kenya, April 22 – The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health has launched an 80-day public inquiry into allegations of unethical kidney transplant procedures at Mediheal Hospital, Eldoret, amid growing concerns over illegal organ trade and transplant tourism.
The inquiry follows a damning exposé and escalating public outcry over the hospital’s transplant practices, with particular attention on claims involving vulnerable Kenyan donors and foreign recipients.
At the heart of the investigation are revelations by the Kenya Renal Association (KRA), which in a statement dated May 3, 2024, raised alarms over possible coercion, insufficient informed consent, and financial inducements in kidney donation procedures actions that would violate Kenyan law and international medical ethics.
Speaking at a press briefing at Bunge Towers on Tuesday, Health Committee Chairperson and Seme MP James Nyikal said the inquiry would scrutinize the legality and ethical compliance of Mediheal’s transplant operations, and recommend appropriate reforms.
“This inquiry speaks to the sanctity of human life and the integrity of our healthcare system,” said Nyikal.
“We are determined to establish whether Mediheal’s procedures conformed to the Health Act and Human Tissue Act. Were donors truly informed and willing? Or were they misled, coerced, or exploited?”
Mediheal, a prominent private hospital group in East Africa, has offered transplant services for over a decade.
However, its Eldoret facility has come under increasing scrutiny in the past two years, with reports suggesting it may have become a destination for “transplant tourism” a controversial practice where foreign patients obtain organs from local donors under questionable conditions.
The committee will also probe the involvement of foreign nationals, both as recipients and medical personnel.
Concerns have emerged over whether proper immigration, licensing, and ethical vetting procedures were followed particularly in cross-border transplants.
“Were the relationships between donors and recipients authentic and medically justified? And were the foreign surgeons fully licensed and authorized to operate in Kenya?” posed Dr. Nyikal.
In December 2023, the Ministry of Health had launched a fact-finding audit into transplant activities at the facility, deploying a multidisciplinary team of transplant surgeons, ethicists, and regulatory officials, including representatives from the Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Services (KBTTS), the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), and KRA.
Tensions escalated on April 17, 2025, when Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale suspended all transplant operations at Mediheal hospitals nationwide and ordered a comprehensive audit of all kidney transplants performed at the facility over the last five years.
Two senior KBTTS officials Dr. Maurice Wakwabubi and Dr. Everlyne Chege were also suspended to ensure an impartial investigation.
The parliamentary probe will run parallel to this executive-led review and will examine the responsiveness of oversight bodies such as the Kenya Tissue and Transplant Authority, KMPDC, and the Ministry of Health.
Legislators will assess whether prior complaints were received and if any regulatory failures allowed unethical conduct to flourish.
“The key question is whether our institutions acted in time, or if they turned a blind eye while Kenyans were being exploited,” said Nyikal.
The committee’s mandate includes a full review of current legal and regulatory frameworks governing organ transplants.
Lawmakers will evaluate licensing procedures, ethical vetting processes, and monitoring systems to determine whether safeguards against abuse are adequately enforced.
To enhance transparency, the committee plans to hold public hearings, receive written submissions from medical professionals and affected individuals, and conduct site visits to Mediheal facilities.
Patient records and transplant approval documentation may also be reviewed, subject to privacy protections.
The inquiry will also consult international transplant ethics experts to benchmark global best practices and regulatory standards.
“Our ultimate goal is not only to investigate wrongdoing, but to restore faith in Kenya’s transplant system,” Nyikal emphasized.
“This scandal threatens both patient safety and the credibility of our medical profession. We must act to ensure that our healthcare sector upholds the highest ethical standards.”
