Nairobi, Kenya- Mediheal Group of Hospitals is defending its name — and its transplant record — after serious allegations of organ trafficking surfaced, triggering public outcry and an 80-day parliamentary probe.
The private healthcare provider, which claims a 98pc kidney transplant success rate, insists it’s operating within legal and ethical bounds.
As scrutiny intensifies, Mediheal is leaning on data and diplomacy — and promises full transparency.
At the center of this storm is a recent exposé alleging possible “transplant tourism” and unethical commercialization of organ donations in Kenya.
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health, chaired by Dr. James Nyikal, launched a formal investigation into these claims.
The committee will be looking into the legality and ethical compliance of transplant services offered by Mediheal, including possible breaches of professional conduct.
Nyikal emphasized that the committee’s work is rooted in restoring public confidence and ensuring oversight in Kenya’s burgeoning transplant sector.
“We aim to safeguard the integrity of the country’s healthcare system through legal and policy reforms if necessary,” he said during a press briefing at Bunge Towers.
Facing the allegations head-on, Mediheal’s legal counsel Katwa Kigen made it clear: “We are not involved in trafficking of human organs. We are not part of any syndicate,” he told reporters.
He added that the hospital is fully cooperating with investigators, including the Ministry of Health and Parliament.
Kigen provided specifics to back the hospital’s position. Since receiving licensing in November 2018, Mediheal has performed 476 kidney transplants — 371 for Kenyans and 105 for international patients from countries such as the U.S., Germany, Burundi, and Somalia.
The hospital says its transplant success rate stands at 98pc, with zero fatalities among organ donors and less than 2pc mortality among recipients. “That’s world-class by any standard,” Kigen emphasized.
Dr. Swarup Mishra, founder of the Mediheal Group, dismissed the accusations as “entirely unfounded” and lacking any credible evidence. He described the media reports as an attack on the facility’s integrity and a distraction from its mission.
“We remain committed to delivering ethical, safe, and world-class healthcare,” Mishra said, reaffirming the hospital’s pledge to uphold transparency and medical ethics.
Kenya’s healthcare system is undergoing growing pains as it navigates complex ethical challenges in high-stakes specialties like organ transplantation.
With the rise of transplant tourism and growing international attention, lawmakers and watchdogs are now tasked with finding the balance between access and oversight.
