DCI Launches Deep Investigation Into Organ Trafficking Allegations at Mediheal Hospital

Caption: Mediheal Hospital Eldoret branch where the alleged illegal kidney transplants were conducted

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has officially taken over investigations into organ trafficking claims at Mediheal Hospital’s Fertility and Transplant Centre in Eldoret. This follows alarming reports of illegal human organ harvesting allegedly conducted at the facility.

DCI’s Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) is now harmonizing all existing police reports from stations across the North Rift region, recording fresh statements from victims and suspects, and using forensic analysis to uncover the full scale of the alleged crime.

Public Urged to Share Information

DCI Director Mohamed Amin has appealed to anyone with credible information—whether victims, witnesses, or whistleblowers—to report to TOCU offices at the DCI Headquarters, Block B.

The hospital was recently closed down temporarily as investigations intensified, following national outrage and a damning exposé on unethical transplant practices at the facility.

Parliament Opens 80-Day Public Inquiry

The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health has begun a comprehensive 80-day probe into Mediheal Hospital’s alleged involvement in unethical kidney transplant procedures. The inquiry will examine the legality and ethical compliance of the hospital’s transplant services.

Seme MP Dr. James Nyikal, who chairs the committee, emphasized the seriousness of the matter during a press conference at Bunge Towers, stating:

“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.”

Damning Claims from Renal Experts

According to a statement by the Kenya Renal Association (KRA) dated May 3, 2024, there is evidence of a disturbing trend involving vulnerable Kenyan donors and foreign recipients at the hospital. The association highlighted cases of coercion, inducement, and lack of informed consent—all violations of Kenyan law and international transplant ethics.

Spotlight on Transplant Tourism and Foreign Doctors

The allegations point to Mediheal being a potential hub for transplant tourism, where foreign patients obtain organs under questionable circumstances. The parliamentary probe will also investigate the legality of foreign medical personnel involved in the transplants, their immigration status, and whether proper licensing procedures were followed.

Kenya’s laws—such as the Health Act and Human Tissue Act—strictly prohibit the commercialization of human organs, and this scandal could potentially lead to significant legal reforms in the country’s healthcare oversight mechanisms.