'We were sold': Frail victims accuse police of aiding kidney trafficking

Doctors during the Parliamentary Committee on Health meeting at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital where they made the inquiry into cases involving kidney transplant in some public and private hospitals in Eldoret City Uasin Gishu County on Thursday. August 29, 2025. [Peter Ochieng, Standard] Victims of the multi-million shilling human organ trafficking racket and unethical transplants have accused authorities of abandoning them. They say that after falling into the trap of smooth-talking scammers, the National Police Service, whom they viewed as their only refuge, did little to protect them from the illegal syndicate. Now frail and frustrated,the victims, who claim they were duped into selling their kidneys to unsuspecting foreigners, are questioning the role of the police. They point an accusing finger at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), which they say failed to end the scam that rocked Eldoret City for months. The National Assembly Committee on Health, which is probing the saga, was told that Kenyans may have been duped into giving up their kidneys since 2017, with hundreds, if not thousands, falling victims. But the scandal took a new twist on Friday after victims, still battling post-surgery complications, narrated how they were allegedly abandoned by security agencies. According to them, the Eldoret kidney fiasco was a well-coordinated and well financed racket involving powerful players in the security sector and political circles. It began when well-known individuals targeted unemployed youth from vulnerable families, luring them with money as bait. Since March last year, 23- year old Emmanuel Kipkosgei, has never been well.Kipkosgei said his kidney was taken and given to an individual from neighbouring Somalia, he has been left to fight for his life alone, his mother a small scale grocer carrying the burden of his care. Good life promise At the time, he was doing his casual labor in Segero, Kapseret sub-county in Uasin Gishu, when someone he knew, approached him. The man told the then 22-year-old that if he wanted to enjoy a good life, he needed to donate a kidney and would be paid handsomely. "My dream was to help my poor parents. When the broker promised money and convinced me that other youth who had sold their organs are doing well in life, I agreed to give out one of my kidneys," said Kipkosgei. Looking frail from post- surgery infections, he narrated further: "The broker took me to town where we held a meeting with some individuals. Later, I was taken to a mansion in Elgon View estate. There, I met several other young men and I realized I was not alone." "The doctor assured us that it was safe to donate a kidney and after we agreed, he gave each one of us Sh50,000." According to Kipkosgei, the meeting took place at the home of a famous doctor of Indian origin, where he was promised Sh1.2 million in exchange for his kidney. What followed, however, was farfrom what he expected. After receiving only Sh50,000 and assurances that the surgery would be safe, Kipkosgei and several other youths were subjected to three weeks of tests at a facility long linked to the kidney trade, as well as at another hospital in Nairobi. During the cross-matching process, he claims, the dealers produced a fake Somali identity card in his name before asking him to sign documents authorizing the procedure. The parliamentary committee was told that such forged IDs were used to disguise Kenyan victims as Somali nationals, helping the syndicate evade detection. "They produced a fake ID showing I was a resident of Mogadishu, Somalia. My new Somali name was Ibrahim Hussein," Kipkosgei recounted. Lasting complications But things took a darker turn after the surgery. He says the operation, performed at the same facility that conducted the tests, was done at night-leaving him with lasting complications.He was discharged about three days after surgery and offered Sh400,000 in cash, but soon developed severe complications that left him with persistent stomach and back pain. His ordeal worsened after his mother reported the matter to Langas and Central police stations upon discovering that her son had sold his kidney."I was unwell, yet when the case was reported, the DCI arrested me. I had to pay Sh20,000 to be released. They questioned me about kidney harvesting, and later arrested me again. This time, I had to part with another Sh20,000 to secure my release," Kipkosgei recounted. "I ended up spending all the money I received after the operation on treatment for the complications. It was not enough-I finished the money and I'm still unable to pay for my care," he added, his voice frail. His mother, Sarah Kirwa, said she went to the police hoping officers would pursue those who duped her son into giving up his kidney for money. According to her, Kipkosgei returned home sick after being missing for more than a week. She claimed she even went to a senior police commander's office seeking help to investigate the matter, but was dismissed. "Your son was paid money and should not complain," she says she was told. Another victim, Amon Kipruto from Kipkenyo in Uasin Gishu County, said the kidney dealers warned him not to disclose the surgery or organ donation to anyone. "They never told me I needed follow-up check-ups or medicine after the surgery. One day, I woke up in pain, my body weak, and I started vomiting blood. I used to work at construction sites, but I can't anymore since the surgery," said Kipruto, whose kidney was harvested last year. Vulnerable families Like Kipkosgei, Amon Kipruto says he was lured by the promise of money. After the surgery, he received Sh600,000, but admits he cannot recall how the money was spent. His mother, Leah Metto, a widow, later took him to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), where doctors confirmed that one of his kidneys had been removed. "I want the recipient of my son's kidney to return it because it was not donated willingly. It has been difficult getting any help from the police," Metto said. Nandi Hills MP Benard Kitur, who petitioned Parliament over the organ transplant scandal, said he was initially denied a chance to appear before the Health Committee. He alleged the kidney trade was a well-orchestrated scam involving well-connected medics, police officers, and political players. Former Kesses MP Swarup Mishra, founder of Mediheal Hospital, said through lawyer Oiboo Marintat that the facility would continue cooperating with Parliament and investigators.Committee chair James Nyikal confirmed police bosses had testified but withheld details, promising findings would be included in the final report. Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge said hundreds of victims were affected and documents were still under review.

'We were sold': Frail victims accuse police of aiding kidney trafficking

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