President William Ruto has revoked the appointment of Mediheal Group of Hospitals founder, Dr. Swarup Mishra, as Non-Executive Chairperson of the Kenya BioVax Institute Limited Board of Directors with immediate effect.
The former Kesses Member of Parliament has been serving as the Kenya Biovax board chair since his appointment in November 2024.
Ruto, in a notice dated July 4, 2025, revoked Mishra’s appointment and, in turn, appointed Charles Githinji as his replacement to serve for three years.
“IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 6 (1) (a) of the State Corporations Act, as read together with section 51 (1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint— CHARLES GITHINJI (DR.) to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Kenya Biovax Institute Limited, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 4th July, 2025,” the notice reads.
“The appointment of *Swarup Ranjan Mishra (Dr.) is revoked.”
Swarup Mishra fired months after suspension
Before he was appointed the Kenya Biovax board chair, Githinji was the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.
President Ruto has in his place appointed Dr. John Munyu who will serve for three years.
The firing of Dr Swarup Mishra comes months after the Head of State in April suspended him.
Ruto said the suspension made on Friday, April 18, “shall remain in force pending the outcome of investigations into serious allegations of unethical and illegal activities involving kidney transplant procedures at Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre in Eldoret”.
Also Read: From Owning 200 Suits, 18 Phones & 1000 Pairs of Shoes to Facing Auction: Swarup Mishra
The hospital was founded by Dr the former Kesses MP.
“The President reaffirms the Government’s commitment to fighting corruption, including upholding integrity in healthcare, public safety, and justice for victims,” the statement read in part.
Investigations into the alleged illegal organ transplants and trafficking at Mediheal Hospital is currently underway.
Mediheal organ trade probe
The probe led by Departmental Committee on Health was set to start a 90-day public inquiry into alleged malpractice and ethical breaches in kidney transplant services at the facility.
Also Read: Organ Trafficking: Duale Exposes How Foreigners Are Flying Out with Kidneys
This comes after the Ministry of Health constituted a 13-member committee to investigate allegations of illegal organ transplants and trafficking following an exposé by international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW).
Health CS Aden Duale appointed the committee chaired by Prof. Elizabeth Bukusi to thoroughly investigate the allegations and assess the level of compliance among health facilities providing transplant services in Kenya.
The task force was assigned to review the current legal and regulatory frameworks governing organ and tissue transplants in the country.
Additionally, it will evaluate how well hospitals comply with these regulations, specifically scrutinize Mediheal Hospital’s adherence to ethical and legal transplant procedures, and engage with donors, recipients, and medical practitioners who have been involved in transplant cases over the past five years.
A key part of the probe will be to determine whether there have been instances of organ commercialization, coercion, or violations of the Human Tissue Act.
These actions follow alarming allegations that Mediheal Hospital has been harvesting kidneys from vulnerable Kenyans for minimal compensation and selling them abroad for substantial profits.
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