A storm is brewing in Kenya’s health sector after shocking revelations emerged in Parliament over organ transplants performed on foreign nationals. The Mediheal Organ Trafficking Probe has taken a new turn, with hospital leaders admitting that Somali patients underwent surgeries funded by the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Lawmakers have raised tough questions on whether the country’s health system has become a hub for cross-border organ trade. With lives lost, donors endangered, and institutions implicated, the scandal has exposed disturbing gaps in oversight and accountability.
Mediheal Organ Trafficking Probe Intensifies After Shocking Admissions
The Mediheal Group of Hospitals and two other facilities are under intense scrutiny following disclosures made before the National Assembly’s Health Committee on August 28, 2025.
Officials confirmed that foreign nationals had received kidney transplants in their facilities, some of which were financed through NHIF. Most patients came from Somalia, raising alarms about Kenya’s role in cross-border organ trafficking.
Endebess MP Robert Pukose pressed hospital leaders on whether foreigners were indeed treated. A Mediheal medical officer admitted that five patients were Somali, sparking outrage among committee members.
Hospitals Admit Links to Foreign Patients
The scandal deepened when hospital representatives revealed that foreign patients had their costs covered through NHIF. This revelation raised questions about loopholes in the fund and how non-Kenyans gained access to taxpayer resources.
Equally troubling was the disclosure that the hospitals relied on a partner facility—a Medical Centre for Kidney and Chronic Diseases—to identify and pair donors with recipients. According to the hospital, most donors were blood relatives.
However, MPs questioned the legitimacy of these claims, demanding concrete records to verify the relationships. The committee instructed hospitals to provide full details of every transplant, including nationality, identity cards, and donor contacts.
The records revealed that one facility had conducted 34 kidney transplants. Hospital leaders acknowledged complications in several cases, including organ rejection, excessive bleeding, and one donor who developed acute kidney injury. Alarmingly, there were reports of patients who died after surgery.
Despite these revelations, the hospitals maintained that no malpractice had occurred. They insisted that all procedures complied with Kenyan laws such as the Health Act 2017, the Human Tissues Act, and the Data Protection Act.
Lawmakers Demand Accountability
The Health Committee signaled that the probe will widen. Legislators are now demanding a full audit of transplant operations in Kenya, focusing on the role of NHIF and how foreign nationals gained access to surgeries subsidized by Kenyan taxpayers.
Critics argue that the revelations point to systemic weaknesses in Kenya’s health sector, where oversight bodies fail to track sensitive procedures like organ transplants. The lack of proper follow-up on patients and donors further fueled suspicion that some hospitals might be covering up unethical practices.
The involvement of Somali nationals added a regional dimension to the scandal. Lawmakers warned that Kenya could be turning into a regional hub for illicit organ trade, attracting desperate patients from neighboring countries where transplant regulations are stricter.
The committee vowed to push for tougher laws, stricter vetting of donors and recipients, and enhanced monitoring of transplant centers. Lawmakers also signaled that criminal investigations could follow if evidence of fraud, malpractice, or human trafficking emerges.
The Bigger Picture of Organ Transplant Scandals in Kenya
The Mediheal organ trafficking probe is not an isolated case. Over the years, Kenya has faced accusations of weak enforcement in the health sector. Experts warn that the combination of poverty, corruption, and rising demand for organs creates fertile ground for cartels.
Hospitals implicated in the current scandal argue they operated within the law. However, activists insist that legal compliance is not enough if oversight is weak and loopholes are exploited.
Human rights groups are now pushing for independent investigations, citing the possibility of coerced or exploited donors. They argue that without transparency, Kenya risks international condemnation and the erosion of trust in its health system.
The Ministry of Health is under pressure to tighten regulation, enhance audits of transplant centers, and protect both patients and donors from exploitation. As investigations continue, the spotlight remains firmly on Mediheal and its counterparts.
