DCI probes organ trafficking allegations at Mediheal Hospital

Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin. [File, Standard]

Hours after the National Assembly Health Committee launched an inquiry into organ trafficking allegations at Mediheal Hospital, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has also begun investigating the claims.

The Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) is leading the probe into human organ trafficking at the hospital's Fertility and Transplant Centre in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.

The DCI posted an update on its X account, urging anyone with information to record their statements at DCI Headquarters.

"We are committed to a thorough investigation to ensure justice for all parties involved," the DCI said.

"Anyone with relevant information is urged to come forward and provide their statements to aid the investigation," the DCI added.

The Health Committee has been given 80 days to determine whether professional ethics were followed.

This follows the suspension of Swarup Mishra as chairperson of the Kenya BioVax Institute by President William Ruto to facilitate the investigation.

"Mediheal wishes to categorically state that the facility strictly adheres to the legal guidelines and the procedure of the hospital," said Maryline Limo, the group's Vice President, in an interview on Spice FM on April 16.

The allegations stem from a report by Deutsche Welle (DW), which raised concerns about suspicious kidney transplant procedures at Mediheal's Eldoret facility.

The investigation revealed claims from donors who were allegedly misled and underpaid for their kidneys.

Limo denied the accusations, stating that the hospital only accepts patients with their donors and does not source or select donors.

However, the hospital has acknowledged challenges in verifying the relationships between donors and recipients, relying on sworn affidavits instead.

Mediheal is also conducting its own internal investigation to identify those responsible for the alleged illegal transactions.

The hospital has faced similar controversies before, with a 2023 audit uncovering irregularities, including an unexplained influx of Israeli kidney patients and failure to verify donor-recipient relationships.