Mediheal undergoes second probe inspection following errors in initial evaluation, directed by Duale.
In a shocking turn of events, an independent expert committee's audit on kidney transplant services at Mediheal Group of hospitals has uncovered massive irregularities and unethical practices, including international organ trafficking, forged documents, and exploitation of vulnerable donors.
The 314-page report, delivered on July 22, 2025, revealed that 81% of kidney donors in Kenya during the review period came from Mediheal, with many donors likely paid illegally and a significant number recruited from outside Kenya, notably young men from Azerbaijan. There were serious ethical concerns about the age range and medical justification of transplants, with some patients as young as eight and many over 65.
The audit directly implicated Dr. Swarup Mishra, Mediheal’s founder, and his top transplant staff, recommending criminal investigations against them. The report also highlighted regulatory and governance failures and recommended strengthening oversight and transparency in the kidney transplant sector.
In response, the Ministry of Health, led by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, took decisive actions. On April 17, 2025, all kidney transplant services at Mediheal Group of hospitals were suspended, citing ethical breaches and patient safety concerns.
Two senior ministry officials, Dr Maurice Wakwabubi and Dr Evelynn Chege, were suspended to ensure independent follow-up. The ministry also announced that the committee's recommendations, which include regulatory reforms and enhanced ethical oversight, would be fully implemented and presented to Parliament and Cabinet for comprehensive sector overhaul.
Duale publicly committed to restoring trust by dismantling cartel-like operations identified in the sector. He also called for criminal investigations into Dr. Mishra and implicated staff members to address potential organ trafficking and fraud.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council was ordered to stop issuing new licences to foreign doctors, except those from East Africa, and to audit all currently licensed foreign practitioners within 90 days. Accountability for possibly exploited patients will follow based on the findings of the expert team.
In June, Duale distanced himself from an earlier report, stating it was compromised, unsigned, and never officially received by the ministry. The details surrounding the earlier probe, including who dissented and why, or those who said there were orders from above to sign the altered report, remain unclear.
All eyes are now on what action the CS will take next, as the Ministry of Health moves forward with its plans to tighten regulation and ethical governance of kidney transplant services in Kenya.
- The health conditions and medical justifications of transplant patients at Mediheal Group of hospitals have been questioned due to serious ethical concerns.
- The Ministry of Health, in an effort to improve health and wellness, has recommended the implementation of regulatory reforms and enhanced ethical oversight in the kidney transplant sector.
- The expert committee's report on kidney transplant services, which uncovered chronic diseases such as organ trafficking and forged documents, has sparked interest in therapies and treatments that prioritize patient safety and transparency.
- The continued focus on chronic kidney disease and its related issues in Kenyan politics underscores the need for strengthened oversight and governance in the health-and-wellness sector.
