Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has initiated a comprehensive investigation into allegations of illegal organ trafficking linked to Mediheal Group clinics, following explosive reports that exposed an international kidney trafficking network. The probe is being led by the DCI’s elite Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) under Director Mohamed Amin.
The investigation comes after Kenyan health authorities suspended all kidney transplant operations at Mediheal clinics nationwide, including the flagship Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre in Eldoret, pending further notice. The suspension was ordered last Thursday amid growing public concern over the scandal.
At a press briefing held on Wednesday, Mediheal vehemently denied any malpractice or illegal activities. The clinic’s legal representatives declared, “We are clean, our services are clean,” and expressed willingness to cooperate fully with the authorities. They also invited the government to conduct an audit of their operations, emphasizing that patients are ready to testify in support of the clinic’s integrity.
The scandal surfaced following an investigation by German public broadcasters DW and ZDF alongside *Der Spiegel*, which uncovered a transnational network involving kidney donors and recipients coordinated by criminal brokers. Vulnerable young Kenyans, as well as foreign donors from countries such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan, were reportedly involved. Meanwhile, desperate recipients willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars were identified in Israel and Germany.
In response, the DCI has called on the public to provide any information that could aid the investigation. Simultaneously, Kenya’s National Assembly Health Committee, chaired by Dr. James Nyikal, has launched a political inquiry to scrutinize whether Mediheal’s procedures complied with the Health Act and the Human Tissue Act. Dr. Nyikal stressed the gravity of the issue, stating, “This is a matter that strikes at the core of human dignity and medical ethics.”
The committee aims to determine if donors were misled, coerced, or compensated improperly, and to ensure accountability. Meanwhile, Mediheal insists all medical records and transplant procedures were properly documented and transparent.
As the investigation unfolds, the case has sparked national and international attention, highlighting critical concerns about medical ethics, human rights, and cross-border organ trafficking.