Kenya’s health sector is once again facing serious questions after Parliament heard troubling details about organ transplants involving foreign nationals.
At the center is the Mediheal Organ Trafficking Probe, which has taken a sharp turn following admissions that Somali patients underwent kidney surgeries in Kenyan hospitals, with some procedures financed by the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund.
These revelations have drawn lawmakers, activists, and the public into a heated debate about whether the country is becoming a hub for cross-border organ trade.
On August 28, 2025, the National Assembly’s Health Committee was informed that Mediheal Group of Hospitals, along with two other facilities, had carried out transplants on foreign patients.
Officials confirmed that some of the beneficiaries were Somali nationals, and what shocked many was the disclosure that NHIF covered part of the costs.
Legislators immediately questioned how non-Kenyans could have accessed a scheme funded by taxpayers, and whether weak oversight had created room for abuse.
Endebess MP Robert Pukose pressed hospital leaders for clarity, and a Mediheal medical officer admitted that five Somali patients had been treated.
The admission triggered outrage among committee members, who demanded explanations about how donors were identified and how patients were linked to the hospitals.
It later emerged that the hospitals relied on a partner institution, the Medical Centre for Kidney and Chronic Diseases, to match donors with recipients. While hospital officials claimed most donors were family members, MPs insisted on concrete proof, including records of identities and family ties.
Details provided to the committee showed that one hospital had conducted 34 kidney transplants. Hospital leaders acknowledged that complications arose in several cases, including organ rejection, heavy bleeding, and a donor who developed acute kidney injury.
Some patients reportedly died after undergoing surgery. Even with these outcomes, hospital representatives maintained that all procedures were lawful and carried out under Kenya’s Health Act 2017, the Human Tissues Act, and the Data Protection Act.Lawmakers, however, were not satisfied.
They argued that the revelations point to gaps in oversight that may be exploited by unscrupulous actors. The committee called for a full audit of transplant operations in Kenya, focusing on how NHIF resources were used and how foreigners gained access to them.
Some MPs warned that Kenya could be sliding into a dangerous position as a regional hub for illicit organ trade, particularly with the involvement of Somali nationals.
Human rights groups have also weighed in, saying that legal compliance cannot replace strong oversight and transparency. They fear that some donors may have been coerced or exploited, and they are calling for independent investigations.
The Ministry of Health has been urged to tighten regulation, improve audits, and ensure the protection of both patients and donors.
The spotlight remains firmly on Mediheal and the other hospitals implicated. The scandal has highlighted weaknesses in Kenya’s health system and renewed the call for reforms to prevent exploitation, misuse of public resources, and the risk of the country becoming a destination for unethical medical practices.
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