Special DCI unit takes charge of organ trafficking probe at Mediheal Hospital

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has taken over the probe into alleged human organ trafficking at Mediheal Hospital’s Fertility and Transplant Centre in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.

The DCI on Tuesday confirmed that its Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) will spearhead the investigation, citing the need to harmonise scattered reports from various police stations across the North Rift region.

Even though the directorate did not disclose how many individuals may have been affected, it indicated that several cases had been reported and preliminary statements recorded.

“The Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) of the DCI has taken over for investigation, the case where Mediheal Hospital is implicated in the trafficking of human organs harvested at its Fertility and Transplant Centre in Eldoret,” read the statement.

“TOCU takes over to harmonise all reports and statements previously recorded, record fresh statements from victims, suspects and anyone with relevant information, as well as employ forensic analysis for a painstaking probe.”

While assuring the public of utmost professionalism while conducting the probe, DCI thus appealed to anyone with any information related to the alleged trafficking to step forward to aid with investigations.

“Any persons (victims or otherwise) who may have information that could help in the highlighted matter are, therefore, called upon to record their statements with the Head of TOCU at the offices held at DCI Headquarters, Block B,” the statement continued.

“The DCI remains committed to conducting investigations with utmost professionalism, with a view to delivering timely justice to both victims and perpetrators of crime.”

The organ trafficking allegations at Mediheal have sparked concern across the medical community and human rights circles.

This comes after a detailed fact-finding mission by a multidisciplinary team appointed by the Ministry of Health, following an alert from the global Transplantation Society.

The Society’s letter, dated July 20, 2023, flagged a suspicious spike in kidney transplants involving Israeli nationals in Kenya, suggesting the existence of an international syndicate bypassing local health regulations.

The team established that the hospital, a licensed level 5 private facility, had performed 372 kidney transplants over five years, mostly for patients from Kenya and the East African region, with some from countries as far as Israel, Australia, Japan, the USA, and the UK.

Following the reports, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale suspended two senior Ministry officials at Mediheal Hospital in Eldoret, namely Dr. Maurice Wakwabubi (acting KBTTS boss) and Dr. Everlyne Chege (technical lead who chaired the probe team). 

President William Ruto also suspended Mediheal founder and former Kesses Member of Parliament Dr. Swarup Mishra from his position as chair of the Kenya BioVax Institute.