Victims of kidney transplant scams in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, have shared their ordeal with the National Assembly Health Committee, explaining how they were duped into donating their kidneys for money as low as Ksh 50,000.
The victims also revealed that they were given fake identification documents to cheat the system, making it appear that they were related to some of the organ recipients from Somalia.
It was also disclosed that at the center of the illegal transplants, which allegedly took place at Mediheal Group of Hospitals, are middlemen.
The committee was informed that these intermediaries carefully identified potential donors with healthy organs, focusing especially on those who were gullible.
Eldoret Kidney Transplant Victims Open Up
Two victims, Emmanuel Kipkosgei and Amon Kipruto, who are surviving on a single kidney, told lawmakers that organ trafficking was a well-coordinated scheme involving several hospitals in Eldoret.
Kipkosgei recalled how he was lured to a posh house in Elgon View Estate, Eldoret, where, along with 13 others, he allegedly met a doctor.
“Then another doctor came and kept convincing us, explaining everything. I thought the business would be difficult, but then an older white man appeared and gave each of us Ksh 50,000 in cash, everyone,” Kipkosgei said.
“Since I had never handled that much money before, I thought I was about to get a lot of money.”
Also Read: KNH Responds After Patient Exposed to Failed Kidney Transplant
The promise of more money convinced him to agree. He and a friend went to one of Eldoret City’s hospitals, where they underwent tests for three weeks.
At one point, they traveled to Nairobi for additional tests before undergoing surgery, which was performed at a different facility. By then, he had been given a new identity to conceal the truth.
“I was promised Ksh 1.2 million, but I was given only Ksh 400,000,” he added, noting that brokers had taken a portion of the money.
However, three days later, he was arrested and detained for four days over alleged involvement in illegal activities, which he believes was a setup.
“When I asked what my mistake was, they didn’t tell me anything. They just told me to explain how I got involved in this activity,” Kipkosgei said, describing the ordeal.
Also Read: Three Hospitals Targeted as Probe into Kidney Trade Takes New Twist
For Kipruto, the pay at the construction site where he worked was too low to make ends meet.
When a friend offered him the deal, he didn’t think twice about the consequences. All he wanted was a quick cash decision that left him with life-threatening injuries and put his family at risk.
“Sometimes I have to walk, then sit down somewhere to rest before I can continue, until my strength returns,” he said.
The committee also grilled top police officials in Uasin Gishu and the management of Mediheal Group of Hospitals, which is at the center of the allegations.
Mediheal Group of Hospitals, St. Luke’s Orthopaedic and Trauma Hospital, and Oak Tree Hospital have been questioned in the organ harvesting probe after revelations that foreign nationals underwent transplants funded by the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
“Hospital administrators of the two facilities admitted that some of their facilities had performed transplants on foreign nationals, mainly Somalis who were registered and paid through the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF),” confirmed the parliamentary report.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
