The National Assembly Health Committee has recommended the lifting of sanctions on Mediheal Hospital following an investigation into alleged organ harvesting.
In a report tabled on Wednesday, April 15, the Health Committee Vice Chairperson, Patrick Munene, said penalties against the Eldoret-based facility should be lifted, except for licenses related to organ transplant services.
“Any sanctions placed on Mediheal Group of Hospitals, including suspension of licences, be lifted except for organ transplant licenses,” part of the tabled report read.
The report was tabled following an inquiry launched in April 2025, after the government suspended kidney transplant services at the facility over allegations of malpractice and ethical violations.
MPs Call for Reforms and Oversight of Transplant Services
Additionally, lawmakers pushed for tighter oversight of transplant services, warning of gaps in the current legal and regulatory framework.
Among key proposals is the enactment of a comprehensive law to govern blood, cell, and organ transplants, including the establishment of a national authority, a central registry, and a transparent organ allocation system.
The committee further urged the Ministry of Health to fast-track regulations under the Health Act and strengthen enforcement mechanisms to improve accountability in the sector.
It also called for the development of a national transplant policy aligned with universal health coverage goals and international standards to ensure safe and equitable access to services.
To curb malpractice, MPs proposed a joint inspection and enforcement framework bringing together relevant regulatory agencies.
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MPs also pushed for increased investment in infrastructure and personnel, urging the National Treasury to prioritize funding for a specialized urology and nephrology center to boost local capacity.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health and county governments were asked to address the shortage of specialists through a national human resource strategy and expand transplant services in public hospitals.
The committee further recommended reviewing the health benefits package to ensure full coverage of transplant services for eligible patients, in consultation with the Social Health Authority.
Also Read: Duale Shuts Down Mediheal Kidney Transplant Services
Why Mediheal Was Sanctioned
On April 22, 2025, Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale directed the immediate suspension of all kidney transplant services at Mediheal Group of Hospitals until further notice.
The suspension followed a letter from the Transplantation Society, which raised concerns over a sharp rise in Israeli nationals receiving kidney transplants at Mediheal Hospital in Kenya.
The audit found that some donors were of different nationalities and had questionable links to recipients, with key procedures, such as HLA testing, conducted in India without approval, and no documentation to confirm donor-recipient relationships.
It also established that transplants were performed on high-risk patients, including those with prostate cancer and poor donor-recipient matches.
In addition, the hospital lacked a multidisciplinary committee to oversee transplant approvals and failed to provide reports on transplant outcomes.
