Mediheal Hospital, one of Kenya’s most prominent private medical institutions, is at the centre of a deepening scandal after an international exposé alleged it was part of a global organ trafficking network. The hospital has denied the claims outright, insisting all kidney transplant procedures conducted at its Eldoret facility are ethical, legal, and above board.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the hospital’s legal team came out swinging. “For someone to claim a hospital is selling organs, they are not just attacking us — they’re attacking the entire medical system in this country,” said one lawyer, clearly rattled but defiant.
The statement follows a joint investigation by German outlets DW, ZDF, and Der Spiegel, which exposed what it described as a transnational web of illegal organ trade. According to the report, vulnerable individuals—mostly young Kenyans—were allegedly misled or coerced into giving up their kidneys, with the organs going to wealthy foreign recipients, particularly from Israel and Germany.
The claims have rocked the country’s medical establishment, prompting swift action from authorities. On Tuesday, the National Assembly’s Health Committee launched an 80-day public inquiry into the allegations. Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed that its elite Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) would lead the probe.
Mediheal, meanwhile, is playing defence—but also opening its doors. “We welcome a full public audit,” said the legal team. “Anyone with concerns is free to come and observe the processes themselves.”
In what appeared to be a calculated pushback, the hospital argued that the accusations are being driven by malicious foreign interests. “Someone out there is not happy that Kenya is offering world-class health services,” said another lawyer. “This is about sabotage, plain and simple.”
Mediheal claims to have carried out 476 kidney transplants to date, 62 of which involved patients from Israel. They argue this is a testament to Kenya’s growing reputation in specialised medical care. “When a patient travels from Israel—a developed country—to Eldoret for treatment, we should be proud,” said the hospital.
Still, the gravity of the allegations is difficult to brush aside. Kenya’s Health Ministry, under Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, has moved to tighten oversight across the sector. On Wednesday, Duale ordered the Council of Clinical Officers (COC) to re-inspect all licensed health facilities and submit fresh reports to the ministry. The aim, he said, is to “safeguard the standards of training and professional practice.”
While investigations are ongoing, public confidence in the healthcare system remains shaky. Human rights groups have called for the government to protect potential victims and ensure transparency throughout the process.
What happens next could reshape how Kenya regulates its growing medical tourism industry—and how it deals with a scandal that cuts to the heart of both ethics and economic inequality.
