THREE ELDORET HOSPITALS UNDER PROBE IN KIDNEY TRADE SCANDAL

The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health has placed three hospitals in Eldoret at the center of investigations into alleged illicit kidney transplants, marking a new twist in Kenya’s unfolding organ trade scandal.
The hospitals under scrutiny are Mediheal Group of Hospitals, St. Luke’s Orthopaedic and Trauma Hospital, and Oak Tree Hospital. Legislators revealed that foreign nationals, particularly Somali patients, received transplants that were billed through the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
St. Luke’s Hospital admitted to conducting 34 kidney transplants, five of which involved Somali nationals. Oak Tree Hospital was cited for coordinating donor-recipient matches and handling pre-surgery processes, raising concerns over possible exploitation.
Committee members questioned the authenticity of donor–recipient relationships and challenged the outsourcing of laboratory tests abroad despite the presence of local facilities. Lawmakers demanded comprehensive transplant records and full documentation for verification.
The hospitals, however, defended their operations, insisting that all procedures complied with the Health Act 2017 and the Human Tissues Act.
Earlier in April, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale suspended transplant services at Mediheal Group of Hospitals, citing ethical breaches and irregularities. Patients were redirected to other licensed facilities, including Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, and Aga Khan University Hospital.
The parliamentary inquiry is expected to intensify as lawmakers push for accountability and transparency in the handling of transplant cases.