- Health Ministry flagged a spike in kidney transplants involving Israeli nationals in Kenya.
- Investigations at Mediheal revealed major ethical and procedural violations.
- Concerns include unclear donor ties, unauthorized human sample exports, and risky surgeries.
- The facility lacked a proper ethics committee and failed clinical governance protocols.
- CS Duale is pushing for urgent reforms to prevent Kenya from becoming a global transplant loophole.
Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, on behalf of the Ministry of Health, has raised serious concerns after an international body flagged an unusual pattern in kidney transplants involving foreign nationals, mainly from Israel.
The Transplantation Society, in a letter dated July 2023, warned of possible exploitation of Kenya’s weak transplant oversight systems, pointing to signs of a cross-border organ trafficking syndicate.
Probe Into Mediheal Uncovers Disturbing Practices
In response, the Ministry formed a multidisciplinary investigative team, which carried out a site visit at Mediheal Hospital between December 5th and 8th, 2023. What they found was deeply troubling.
Despite the hospital performing over 370 kidney transplants, investigators discovered numerous breaches of medical and ethical standards.
Cases involved unclear links between donors and recipients, exportation of human biological samples to India without proper clearance, and lack of consent forms translated for non-English speakers.
High-Risk Surgeries Without Proper Oversight
Even more alarming, the probe revealed that some procedures were done on high-risk patients, including individuals battling conditions like prostate cancer, and in cases where the organ compatibility was questionable.
The hospital also failed to maintain proper morbidity and mortality records and operated without an active ethics committee—raising questions about who was approving these operations.
Call for Swift Reforms and Regulation
CS Duale has now called for immediate reforms, proposing the introduction of clear transplant guidelines, stricter laws to counter organ trafficking, and mandatory ethical reviews for all future transplant operations.
“The integrity of Kenya’s medical reputation is on the line. We must act now,” Duale noted.
Mediheal Hospital has yet to respond to the Ministry’s findings.
Fears Over Kenya Becoming a Black Market for Organs
Health experts are warning that if the country fails to fix these regulatory gaps, Kenya risks becoming a hotspot for unethical organ transplants and exploitative medical tourism.
The report has triggered nationwide debate, with the public demanding accountability and transparency from all institutions involved.
