The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health, led by Seme MP Dr. James Nyikal, has launched an 80-day public inquiry into allegations of organ trafficking at Eldoret’s Mediheal Hospital.
The move follows mounting public pressure and recent investigations by an international and local news outlet implicating the hospital of being a part of an international ring selling human kidneys to desperate patients abroad.
While addressing a press conference at Bunge Towers on Tuesday, Dr. Nyikal said the public inquiry aims to examine the legality, ethical compliance, and oversight of kidney transplant services at Mediheal, and to recommend necessary legal or policy reforms to safeguard the integrity of the country’s healthcare system.
“This is a serious matter that touches on the dignity of life and the reputation of Kenya’s medical profession. We intend to get to the bottom of it. We are going to ask critical questions. Were the procedures at Mediheal in line with the Health Act and Human Tissue Act? Was there evidence of organ commercialization? Were donors fully informed, or were they deceived or coerced into donating?” Dr. Nyikal posed.
President William Ruto has suspended Mediheal founder and former Kesses Member of Parliament Dr. Swarup Mishra as the chair of the Kenya BioVax Institute over the illicit trade.
