Kidney harvesting scandal: Duale suspends two gov't officials, halts transplants at Mediheal Hospital

The hospital is currently under investigation for allegedly harvesting kidneys from poor Kenyans who are reportedly paid Ksh.294,000 and then selling them to recipients in foreign countries for Ksh.3.2 million each. 

A report by the Nation revealed that the Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Services (KBTTS) formed a probe team to finalise a report on the allegations in December 2023, which did not see the light of day. 

However, whistleblowers in the probe team claimed that the final report was interfered with, citing orders from above. 

In a statement on Thursday, CS Duale directed the immediate suspension of Dr. Maurice Wakwabubi, acting KBTTS boss and Dr. Everlyne Chege, the technical lead who chaired the probe team. 

He cited that this would eliminate potential conflicts of interest during the ongoing investigations. 

The CS appointed Dr. Martin Sirengo, senior Deputy Director of Medical Services, to take the helm of KBTTS in the interim period.   

Further, Duale suspended all kidney transplant services at the hospital until further notice to investigate the claims. He redirected all patients seeking transplant-related services to attend any of the eight licensed kidney transplant facilities. 

These include Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Aga Khan University Hospital, MP Shah Hospital, Nairobi Hospital, St Luke's Hospital-Eldoret, Nairobi West Hospital and Mater Hospital. 

To effectively conduct the investigations, CS Duale appointed an independent committee of transplant experts to conduct a comprehensive audit of all kidney transplant services at the hospital for the past five years. 

The committee is expected to submit a report within 90 days, citing that the previous probe team in 2023 declined to formally submit their findings to the Ministry. 

The Cabinet Secretary also directed the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) to suspend the issuance of new licences to foreign medical practitioners except those from the East African Community member states until the existing guidelines conform to international standards. 

This follows allegations that KMPDC licensed foreign doctors who had been previously banned from practising medicine in Pakistan and India. 

To mitigate the situation, Duale ordered KMPDC to audit all licensed foreign medical practitioners and submit a report within 90 days. 

"As Cabinet Secretary for Health and the team I lead, I reaffirm my Ministry's unwavering commitment to protecting the rights, safety and dignity of patients, and to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and accountability in all aspects of healthcare delivery," the statement read in part.