Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale has directed a nationwide inspection of all hospitals and clinics.
The directive was issued during a high-level meeting with the leadership of the Clinical Officers Council (COC), led by Chairperson Prof. Samuel Kang’ethe, on Wednesday, April 23.
CS Duale said the move is part of key regulatory reforms aimed at improving healthcare quality and safety under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework.
“To reinforce accountability, the CS instructed the Council to undertake a comprehensive re-inspection of all licensed health facilities and submit detailed reports to the Ministry,” he said.
At the same time, Duale called for the full digitisation of the COC systems in alignment with the Ministry’s Digital Health Strategy and the Digital Health Agency, to facilitate real-time oversight and eliminate malpractice.
“Do not license any clinical officer trained in an institution that has not been duly merited, inspected, and audited by the Council,” Duale added.
He reiterated that safeguarding the standards of training and professional practice is paramount to ensuring the health and safety of the public.
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Duale Warns Against Licensing Unqualified Health Facilities
Earlier on Tuesday, April 22, the CS issued a stern warning to the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) against the licensing of unqualified and non-compliant medical facilities.
He emphasized that it will not be business as usual, warning that any compliance or registration officer found engaging in malpractice will face serious consequences.
Duale called on the Council to uphold integrity, transparency, and public service, as outlined in Section 33(2) of the 2023 Social Health Insurance Act.
He reiterated the Council’s key role in ensuring that all Kenyans, regardless of age or economic status, can access safe and quality healthcare delivered by qualified professionals.
“Let your operations reflect integrity, transparency, and service to the public,” he urged, while also calling for timely service delivery, teamwork, and efficient use of public resources.
Also Read: Duale Shuts Down Mediheal Kidney Transplant Services
Expose Links Mediheal Hospital to Organ Trafficking
This directive follows a damning special investigation by German media outlets Deutsche Welle (DW), ZDF, and Der Spiegel, which exposed Kenya as a key hub in a suspected international organ trafficking syndicate.
The report identified Mediheal Hospital as a major site for transplant procedures, with recipients reportedly paying up to $200,000 (Ksh25.9 million) for a single kidney transplant.
The investigation tracked the journeys of both organ sellers and recipients, analyzed key documents, and interviewed whistleblowers and medical professionals.
It revealed a vast global network connecting a hospital in Kenya to a shadowy agency in Germany — a system that preys on desperate individuals at both ends: vulnerable young people driven by poverty to sell their organs and older patients seeking life-saving transplants.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Health released findings from a government-led investigation into Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre.
The report uncovered significant gaps in the facility’s kidney transplant program and raised fresh concerns about possible organ trafficking involving foreign nationals.
The findings also revealed that the licensed Level 5 private hospital in Eldoret had performed 372 kidney transplants over a five-year span.
While the majority of recipients came from Kenya and neighboring East African countries, others had traveled from as far as Israel, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
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