Kenya Insights

Tag: Mediheal Hospital

  • Mediheal: Inside the Criminal Organ Trafficking Ring That Made Mishra Millions

    Mediheal: Inside the Criminal Organ Trafficking Ring That Made Mishra Millions

    A far-reaching investigation by the Ministry of Health has exposed an international organ trafficking syndicate operating from one of Kenya’s most prominent private hospitals, Mediheal, allegedly orchestrated by its founder, former Kesses MP Dr Swarup Mishra.

    The 18-member probe team, appointed by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, uncovered a deeply disturbing network of exploitation, forged documentation, unethical medical practices, and cash-for-organs deals that have turned vulnerable Kenyans and foreign nationals into a supply chain for the world’s desperate and wealthy.

    At the center of the scandal is Mediheal Group of Hospitals, whose transplant wing has dominated the kidney transplant market in Kenya, performing 476 procedures between 2018 and March 2025, dwarfing all other hospitals combined.

    The evidence points to a clear pattern: exploitation of poor, desperate individuals particularly men in exchange for cash, with organs channeled to affluent foreign patients, especially from Israel.

    A medical mirage of greed

    The investigation paints a damning portrait of Mediheal’s operations. The hospital charged Kenyans Sh2 million, other Africans Sh3.2 million, and non-Africans Sh4.4 million for kidney transplants, a three-tier pricing model that officials say signals “transplant tourism.”

    More than 347 patients paid out-of-pocket in cash. Only 77 procedures were covered by insurance. The data reveals 25.1% of Mediheal’s donors were “highly likely” to have been paid illegally, a sharp contrast to the 3.6% average at other hospitals.

    Many of these donors, investigators say, were not even from Kenya. A striking number were young Azeri men, systematically recruited to supply kidneys to Israeli recipients, none of whom donated organs themselves. The report raises red flags of “forged identification documents, misrepresented relationships,” and a pipeline from Azerbaijan to Israel.

    “Kidney harvesting capital” of East Africa?

    According to the report, Kenya and specifically Mediheal has effectively become a regional hub for organ harvesting.

    Of all kidney donors nationwide during the review period, 81% came from Mediheal. An overwhelming 77.2% of these were men, further underscoring the gender imbalance and socio-economic vulnerability of those targeted.

    Some patients were as young as eight, while others were as old as 80 including 170 aged over 65 raising serious ethical questions about the medical justification and safety of these transplants.

    The Mishra machine

    Mediheal Hospital

    The report directly implicates Dr Swarup Mishra, as well as his top transplant staff: nephrologist Dr A.S. Murthy, urologist Dr Sananda Bag, and anaesthesiologist Dr Vijay Kumar, all of whom are recommended for criminal investigation.

    Dr Murthy is described as running a dangerous “one-man show” without oversight, ethics committees, or licensed transplant teams. Despite working in Kenya for eight years, he is not a member of the Kenya Renal Association. Investigators found expired staff licenses, ghost roles, and nurses posing as theatre technicians. In one case, a nurse aide was performing technical roles in operating rooms.

    Mediheal lacked essential transplant personnel, including pathologists, psychologists, and nutritionists. There were no formal audit meetings, ethics reviews, or multidisciplinary oversight.

    Meanwhile, donor consent videos submitted to the committee were identical to promotional material posted online — suggesting donors were used as props to market transplant services.

    Kenya’s regulatory collapse

    The findings implicate not just the hospital but also state agencies that failed to act. The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) faces accusations of regulatory negligence and possible collusion for ignoring prior complaints against Mediheal.

    Samples from Kenyan patients were flown to unregistered labs in India without authorization from the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board. The labs were not accredited, and their use violates Kenyan law.

    An MoU between Mediheal and Indian-based SRL Limited was signed without expiry, a loophole investigators fear may have facilitated unchecked medical testing and possible data misuse.

    Targeting the poor, serving the rich

    The report reveals that most donors were sourced from Mountain, Rift Valley, and Northern Kenya, where poverty and desperation run high. A former Mediheal marketing coordinator told the committee she worked from 2018 to 2023 recruiting donors in western Kenya and coordinating foreign patients, mainly from Israel.

    The deaths of at least 10 transplant patients were reported, with complications including renal artery thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Yet Mediheal conducted no post-transplant audits — a gross violation of medical protocol.

    The committee’s recommendations are sweeping: immediate criminal investigations, regulatory reviews, and a complete overhaul of Kenya’s organ transplant system.

    A cover-up in the making?

    Despite the depth of the findings, insiders now say efforts to suppress or doctor the report have already begun. Health CS Duale disowned the report, citing internal dissent. Meanwhile, Parliament’s health committee probing the scandal reportedly interviewed only one witness before its term expired.

    Kenya may be facing the largest medical crime in its history one that not only commodified human organs but turned the country’s medical reputation into a global black market.

  • Mediheal: Damning Report Tightly Links Mishra to Organ Trafficking, Recommends Criminal Charges

    Mediheal: Damning Report Tightly Links Mishra to Organ Trafficking, Recommends Criminal Charges

    Government Taskforce Exposes International Kidney Harvesting Syndicate Operating from Eldoret Hospital

    A bombshell government investigation has recommended immediate criminal charges against Dr. Swarup Mishra, founder of Mediheal Group of Hospitals, following evidence of his alleged central role in an international organ trafficking syndicate that exploited hundreds of impoverished Kenyans.

    The Independent Investigative Committee on Tissue and Organ Transplant Services delivered its damning 314-page report to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Tuesday, exposing what investigators describe as a sophisticated criminal enterprise that harvested kidneys from vulnerable donors for wealthy international recipients.

    Evidence

    The investigation, spanning three months and analyzing data from 452 donors and 447 recipients across multiple institutions, revealed that Mediheal Hospital in Eldoret accounted for approximately 81% of all donors and 76% of all recipients in Kenya’s organ transplant sector between 2018 and March 2025.

    This staggering concentration of transplant activity at a single private facility immediately raised questions about the hospital’s operations and regulatory oversight.

    The data paints a disturbing picture of systematic exploitation that operated on an industrial scale. Mediheal Hospital handled 417 donors and 340 recipients, with male patients making up three out of every four cases.

    Most concerning to investigators was that nearly 40% of recipients had “unknown status,” indicating possible deliberate gaps in documentation to obscure their identities and origins.

    The investigation uncovered evidence of what appears to be a transnational organ trafficking network with tentacles reaching across continents.

    While Kenyan recipients made up half of the donors, those with undocumented nationalities, along with individuals from Israel and Uganda, comprised the lion’s share of the remaining cases.

    Perhaps most tellingly, investigators found that 60 people failed to reveal their country of origin, a pattern they believe was designed to cover tracks and obscure the international nature of the operation.

    Previous reporting by international media organizations, including Deutsche Welle, had already exposed how impoverished Kenyans were paid KSh294,000 for their organs, which were then sold to recipients in Germany for Sh3.2 million each.

    Foreign recipients were reportedly paying up to $200,000 for transplants at the private Kenyan hospital, creating a profit margin that investigators say demonstrates the predatory nature of the alleged scheme.

    The taskforce identified numerous red flags that had gone unaddressed by regulatory authorities for years.

    A single surgeon and a single anesthesiologist operated on 24 patients within a 14-day period, raising serious concerns about patient safety and the quality of care.

    Documentation irregularities plagued the operation, with concerns about the authenticity of signatures and some patients mysteriously categorized as “mutual friends.”

    The laboratory used to test Kenyan samples in India was not even registered by the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board, yet continued to process critical medical tests.

    The pattern of operations suggested that Mediheal was functioning as a transplant tourism destination, commanding the premium pricing structures typically associated with such medical tourism operations.

    This positioning allowed the hospital to attract wealthy international clients while exploiting the desperation of local donors who had few alternatives for economic survival.

    The committee has now recommended criminal investigations for four key figures at the center of the alleged scheme.

    Dr. Swarup Mishra faces charges as the hospital’s founder and owner, while Dr. A.S. Murthy, the nephrologist, is accused of running a “one-man show” in what investigators emphasize should be a “team sport” requiring multiple specialists and oversight.

    Dr. Sananda Bag, the urologist and transplant surgeon, and Dr. Vijay Kumar, the anesthesiologist, are also recommended for criminal investigation for their potential involvement in the trafficking operation.

    Mishra cornered 

    Despite mounting evidence, Mishra has maintained his innocence with religious fervor.

    “In the name of God, I swear I am not guilty. Mediheal has never been involved in any form of organ trafficking. This is a conspiracy to finish me,” he declared in April when the allegations first surfaced publicly.

    However, his protestations have been undermined by the systematic evidence compiled by the government taskforce.

    The allegations have already had significant consequences for Mishra’s career and standing. President William Ruto suspended Mishra as the chairperson of the Kenya BioVax Institute in April, with the suspension taking effect immediately to allow investigations into the organ trafficking allegations.

    This presidential action signaled the seriousness with which the government views the charges.

    The fall from grace is particularly stark for a man who first set foot on Kenyan soil in 1997 as an ambitious gynaecologist with nothing but a suitcase and a dream.

    Over two decades, Mishra built a medical empire that positioned him as a respected healthcare provider and even earned him government appointments.

    His transformation from immigrant doctor to alleged organ trafficking kingpin represents one of the most dramatic reversals of fortune in Kenya’s recent medical history.

    Systemic failures 

    The report also exposes broader regulatory failures that allowed the alleged scheme to operate with impunity for years.

    The committee recommends that the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council be investigated for potential regulatory failure and possible criminal collusion due to their repeated inaction on reports of wrongdoing at Mediheal Hospital.

    Dr Cheptinga claimed that interference with the final report occurred at the highest levels, suggesting that the scandal may extend beyond Mediheal itself into government regulatory bodies.

    Cabinet Secretary Duale has promised decisive action that goes beyond the usual government rhetoric.

    “I want to assure you that report will not find itself on the shelves. It will be implemented. I will take it to Parliament and Cabinet,” he declared upon receiving the report. His commitment suggests that the government recognizes the international embarrassment and domestic outrage that the scandal has generated.

    The committee has made sweeping recommendations for reform that would fundamentally restructure Kenya’s organ transplant system.

    These include establishing a National Organ Transplant Authority, creating a National Transplant Coordination Centre, and implementing robust oversight mechanisms for all health facilities offering diagnostic, dialysis, and transplant services.

    The committee also recommends that Mediheal Hospital remain suspended until all investigations are concluded.

    Behind the statistics and regulatory failures lies a deeply human story of exploitation that has touched hundreds of families across Kenya.

    Rip-off 

    The investigation revealed how young, impoverished people were systematically taken advantage of to donate their kidneys at a cost of about Ksh.400,000, while Mediheal Hospital allegedly sold those same organs for almost Ksh.30 million to patients locally and overseas.

    This vast markup, from approximately $3,000 paid to donors to nearly $200,000 charged to recipients, illustrates both the predatory nature of the alleged scheme and the vulnerability of those it exploited.

    The Mediheal scandal has triggered multiple parallel investigations that promise to keep the story in the headlines for months to come.

    Parliament’s Health Committee has opened an 80-day inquiry into the alleged organ harvesting, while the government has suspended all organ transplant services at the Mediheal Group of Hospitals with immediate effect.

    These overlapping investigations suggest that the full scope of the alleged criminal enterprise may be even larger than currently understood.

    As Kenya grapples with this unprecedented healthcare scandal, the case has exposed critical weaknesses in the country’s medical regulatory framework and raised serious questions about how such an extensive alleged criminal operation could operate for years without detection.

    The scandal has damaged Kenya’s reputation as a medical tourism destination and raised questions about the oversight of private healthcare facilities throughout the country.

    The next phase will determine whether justice will be served for the vulnerable individuals who may have been exploited, and whether Kenya can rebuild trust in its organ transplant system through meaningful reform and accountability.

    For now, the weight of evidence compiled by the government taskforce has placed Swarup Mishra at the center of what may be one of the most significant medical scandals in Kenya’s history.

  • Israeli Tip That Blew the Lid on Organ Trafficking at Mediheal

    Israeli Tip That Blew the Lid on Organ Trafficking at Mediheal

    In July 2023, a letter from halfway across the globe sparked a scandal that ripped open the carefully guarded secrets of a respected hospital in Eldoret.

    Israeli authorities had noticed something odd—patients returning from Kenya after kidney transplants couldn’t explain where their donors came from.

    The relationships seemed fake, the surgeries suspicious, and the trail led straight to Mediheal Hospital.

    What followed was a tale of deceit, medical corruption, and global concern that exposed Kenya’s vulnerability in the fight against organ trafficking. This is the chilling truth behind the organ trafficking at Mediheal.

    organ trafficking at Mediheal

    International Watchdogs Raise the Alarm on Organ Trafficking at Mediheal

    On July 20, 2023, the Transplantation Society (TTS) and the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group (DICG), two global watchdogs in human organ transplants, sounded the alarm.

    Their top officials—Prof. Elmi Muller and Dr. Thomas Muller—wrote directly to Kenya’s transplant regulator.

    The letter, addressed to Dr. Maurice Wakabubwi, then acting CEO of the Kenya Tissue and Transplant Authority, warned about a potential human trafficking network operating within a Kenyan hospital.

    The concern? Israeli patients returning home after surgeries in Kenya said they’d received kidneys from “relatives.” But these so-called relatives turned out to be non-existent or unverifiable.

    In most cases, donors were allegedly labeled as “nephews,” a term repeatedly used to pass them off as family members.

    The investigators were clear: if the donors were indeed relatives, there would be no reason for the surgeries to happen in Kenya. They could have easily been done in Israel.

    The TTS and DICG noted that the operation was likely being run by an organized syndicate that had learned to bypass Kenya’s transplant regulations.

    They specifically mentioned that “several kidney transplants involving trafficked foreign kidney donors” had taken place in Eldoret—pointing the finger at Mediheal Hospital.

    The donors, according to the report, came from Central Asia, while the lead doctors were of Indian origin. The letter offered Kenya technical support and urged officials not to ignore the signs.

    Mediheal at the Center of the Storm

    The hospital at the center of these claims—Mediheal—is one of Kenya’s most prominent private healthcare facilities. Known for advanced medical procedures and foreign specialists, it has long marketed itself as a leader in kidney transplants.

    But behind the spotless hospital walls, investigators now believe lies a well-oiled organ trafficking syndicate.

    At the heart of the issue is transplant tourism—a practice where foreign patients travel to other countries to receive illegal or unethical organ transplants.

    Mediheal allegedly became a hotspot for such procedures, where brokers match desperate patients with poor foreign donors for the right price.

    What raised red flags was the repeated pattern of unverifiable relationships between donors and recipients. This, coupled with the clinic’s consistent use of foreign surgeons and patients, made global watchdogs suspicious.

    The DICG stressed that such activities violate the Declaration of Istanbul, a global framework signed by over 50 countries, including Kenya, which prohibits trafficking and unethical transplant practices.

    Dr. Wakabubwi was urged to act—and quickly. The TTS and DICG reminded him that Kenya is not alone in facing this challenge, but ignoring the signs could make it a safe haven for traffickers.

    Kenya’s Slow Response and Government Involvement

    Despite the seriousness of the letter, action in Kenya was sluggish. It wasn’t until October 2023, three months later, that Dr. Wakabubwi responded formally. He wrote to the Secretary of Administration at the State Department for Medical Services.

    In his letter, he requested Sh1.3 million in funding—attaching the original warning letter as justification. But why the delay? Why wasn’t the hospital immediately investigated? Why was the public kept in the dark?

    These are the questions Kenyans have the right to ask. The case exposed glaring weaknesses in the country’s transplant monitoring system.

    It also showed how easily foreign syndicates can exploit regulatory loopholes to conduct life-altering surgeries—often without the full consent of the donors.

    In the months following the scandal, the Kenya Tissue and Transplant Authority was restructured and renamed the Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Service (KBTTS). Whether this change will lead to real reform is still unclear.

    But the fact remains—an international scandal had to break before Kenya took action. That is a national shame.

    The Bigger Picture – Organ Trafficking Is a Global Crisis

    The organ trafficking at Mediheal is not just a Kenyan problem. It’s part of a much larger global crisis where poverty, desperation, and corruption meet. Traffickers prey on the world’s most vulnerable people, often luring them with small payments to donate kidneys—sometimes under force or false promises.

    According to the World Health Organization, thousands of illegal transplants take place every year. The black market for kidneys is booming, and clinics in developing nations have become the go-to for foreign patients willing to bypass ethics for survival.

    Kenya now stands accused of being a weak link in this chain. But it also has the opportunity to lead in reform. This case must not be swept under the rug. The government must investigate, prosecute, and clean house.

    Mediheal must be held accountable, and oversight bodies must prove they are more than just paper tigers. The trust of patients—both local and international—is on the line.

    Conclusion

    The Israeli tip that exposed the organ trafficking at Mediheal pulled back the curtain on a medical scandal of global proportions. What started as whispers became hard evidence of illegal transplants and unethical medical practices.

    Now, Kenya must choose—silence and complicity or transparency and justice. The world is watching.

  • Govt Suspends Kidney Transplant Services At Mediheal Hospital Transplants Amid Ethical Breaches and Organ Trafficking Concerns

    Govt Suspends Kidney Transplant Services At Mediheal Hospital Transplants Amid Ethical Breaches and Organ Trafficking Concerns

    Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has ordered the immediate suspension of all kidney transplant services at the Mediheal Group of Hospitals, citing ethical breaches and malpractice at the facility.

    The decision comes after a thorough investigation revealed concerning practices in the hospital’s transplant procedures.

    “Effective immediately, all transplant services, particularly kidney transplant services, at Mediheal Group of Hospitals are hereby suspended until further notice. This decision follows credible concerns from both the government and citizens regarding the facility’s adherence to ethical standards in transplant procedures,” Duale said in a statement on Thursday.

    He further directed that all patients currently seeking transplant-related services at Mediheal be redirected to eight other licensed transplant centres across the country, including Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, and Nairobi Hospital, among others.

    The suspension follows a detailed investigation carried out by a multidisciplinary team appointed by the Ministry of Health. The team, composed of transplant specialists, ethicists, and officials from the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), carried out an on-site audit of the hospital between December 5 and 8, 2023.

    Their investigation was prompted by a letter from the global Transplantation Society, which raised concerns about an unusual increase in kidney transplants involving Israeli nationals, hinting at a potential organ trafficking syndicate.

    The team’s findings revealed that Mediheal, a level 5 private facility, had performed 372 kidney transplants over five years, primarily for patients from Kenya and the East African region, with some from countries like Israel, Australia, Japan, the USA, and the UK.

    Despite embracing modern techniques, such as conducting 99 per cent of surgeries laparoscopically and maintaining consent records for donors, the investigators uncovered serious shortcomings.

    “There were weak donor-recipient verifications, where the hospital could not provide adequate documentation proving the biological or relational ties between donors and recipients, especially in cross-national pairings,” Duale said.

    He also noted that several Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) tests, which distinguish between ‘self’ and ‘non-self’ cells, were conducted in India without prior approval from the Ministry of Health for the shipment of human samples outside the country.

    Additional findings highlighted serious concerns, including unaddressed language barriers that led to donors and recipients receiving untranslated documents, undermining informed consent. The investigation also flagged high-risk transplantations involving patients with prostate cancer and poor donor-recipient compatibility.

    The audit, while not confirming direct involvement in organ trafficking, found enough grounds for further investigation by law enforcement.

    Duale also emphasised the need for a comprehensive overhaul of Kenya’s transplant governance, urging the development of national standards and regulatory frameworks to safeguard against organ trafficking and transplant tourism.

    Suspends officials

    To further ensure the integrity of the investigation, Duale suspended two senior Ministry of Health officers involved in the probe. Dr. Maurice Wakwabubi, Acting Head of Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Services (KBTTS), and Dr. Everlyne Chege, the technical lead of the Ministry’s multidisciplinary team, were both suspended to eliminate any potential conflict of interest.

    Meanwhile, Dr. Martin Sirengo, Senior Deputy Director of Medical Services, has been appointed to take over KBTTS on an interim basis.

    Mediheal Group, however, denied any involvement in an international organ trafficking syndicate. Maryline Limo, the Group’s Vice President in charge of operations, clarified that the hospital does not source or select donors but requires patients to bring their donors.

    She also denied the claims made by some donors, including one who alleged that he was promised Sh800,000 for a kidney but received only Sh500,000.

    “We want to make it clear that the patients come with their donors to the facility. The hospital is not involved in the sourcing and selection of donors,” Limo said in an interview on Spice FMon April 16.

    Limo further denied any knowledge of the illegal transactions suggested in the Deutsche Welle (DW) exposé, in which some donors claimed to have been misled and underpaid. She emphasised that the hospital charges only for medical services rendered, not for organ donations, and vowed to investigate the matter further.

    Mediheal has faced scrutiny in the past for similar allegations, including an investigation last year that revealed irregularities in the transplant programme, such as failing to verify donor-recipient relationships and performing high-risk transplants without proper oversight.

    Despite these controversies, Limo defended Mediheal’s kidney transplant services, stating that the Ministry of Health has conducted routine checks and cleared the hospital’s procedures in the past.

    However, questions remain about why so many foreign patients seek out Mediheal specifically for kidney transplants, with the hospital attributing this to its high success rate.

    “We are working very well with the Ministry. They usually come to conduct routine checks on certain procedures, including kidney transplants, and have given a positive verdict,” Limo said.

  • Former Kesses MP Swarup Mishra in Crisis: Is Raila Odinga His Last Lifeline?

    Former Kesses MP Swarup Mishra in Crisis: Is Raila Odinga His Last Lifeline?

    Former Kesses MP Swarup Mishra faces a daunting crisis as his multibillion-shilling properties teeter on the edge of auction due to mounting debts. With Eshikoni Auctioneers poised to seize valuable assets from November 4 to 6, hope arrives unexpectedly.

    President William Ruto recently announced the release of Sh3 billion to settle healthcare debts, offering a potential lifeline for Mishra.

    As political tensions rise and financial woes deepen, Mishra seeks help from influential figures like Raila Odinga.

    Will he manage to salvage his legacy, or will his assets fall into the hands of auctioneers? The stakes have never been higher.

    Raila’s Efforts to Help Former Kesses MP Swarup Mishra

    Former Kesses MP Swarup Mishra is facing another auction of his properties. The auction is set to happen from November 4 to November 6.

    Luckily for him, President William Ruto recently announced that the government has released Sh3 billion to pay off debts to hospitals and other service providers. This decision may help Mishra avoid losing his multibillion-shilling investments.

    Auctioneer Threatens Mishra’s Properties

    Eshikoni Auctioneers is ready to seize various pieces of Mishra’s property due to unpaid debts. Mishra has reportedly sought help from ODM leader Raila Odinga to talk to President Ruto.

    The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) reportedly owes Mishra’s Mediheal Hospitals billions of shillings in unpaid bills, which has led to dire financial issues for the hospital.

    Recently, auctioneers seized ten vehicles from Mediheal Hospital in Nakuru, co-owned by Mishra. The vehicles were taken to settle a Sh40 million debt. Additionally, there is a pending court order for Sh13 million, which adds further pressure on Mishra.

    Mediheal Hospital Faces Financial Troubles

    Mediheal Hospital in Nakuru is struggling financially. The hospital closed last year after failing to pay its 17 doctors and several staff members. This hospital is part of the Mediheal Group, which is valued at around Sh30 billion.

    Auctioneers are now targeting land linked to Mishra. Some of the pieces include parcels in the Kiambaa-Kesses Division and at Ngeria Centre, measuring between 0.2223 acres and about 10 acres.

    Mishra served as Kesses MP in 2017 but lost his seat in 2022 to Julius Rutto, a newcomer from the UDA party. Mishra’s troubles began in late 2022 when Mediheal Hospital was removed from the NHIF list of approved facilities.

    This exclusion, along with the teachers’ insurance scheme under Minet also pulling out, put significant stress on his business.

    Allegations of Political Persecution

    Many people suspect that Mishra is facing political persecution. After President Ruto won the election, he issued an apology to Mishra in September 2022. Mishra admitted he made a poor choice by supporting the opposition, citing a lack of wisdom in his decision.

    On May 17, 2023, he officially joined the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). This move was marked by a warm reception from party officials, including former secretary general Cleopas Malala.

    Word has it that Mishra fell victim to scams by influential political figures, including Kapseriet MP Oscar Sudi. These brokers allegedly convinced Mishra to invest millions in schemes to reconcile him with President Ruto.

    Wrapping Up

    Swarup Mishra is currently in a tough spot. However, the recent announcement from President Ruto has given him some hope. While he tries to save his properties, the future remains uncertain.

    Mishra’s political shifts and financial troubles highlight the challenges faced by politicians who change allegiances.

    With help from allies like Raila Odinga and the UDA, Mishra may find a way to recover from this crisis. But for now, the risk of losing his assets looms large.

  • ‪Mediheal Hospital Involved In Organ Trafficking, Evidence Shows

    ‪Mediheal Hospital Involved In Organ Trafficking, Evidence Shows

    Mediheal Hospital in Eldoret has been involved in alleged organ smuggling over unspecified period of time, a report has revealed.

    The report commissioned by International Society of Nephrology and done under the Kenya Renal Association (KRA) exposes an alleged complex syndicate in which the hospital is being accused of engagement in unethical transplant activities, involving the sale of kidneys and transplant tourism that have violated international and local laws.

    The report reveals how buyers from overseas were purchasing kidneys as low as Sh700,000.

    The investigating committee say the probe was launched over complaints that raised serious ethical concerns.

    Investigations reveal exploitation of vulnerable donors, endangering their health and damaging Kenya’s medical reputation. Such practices undermine trust in voluntary organ donation, fostering a dangerous black market.

    “This is the association said is in direct violation of the World Health Organization resolutions, the Declaration of Istanbul, and Kenya’s Health Act of 2017, which prohibits organ trade.” the report reads.

    Evidence

    The committee has accused the hospital of damaging the county’s reputation by involvement in the unethical practices and taking advantage of the poor members of the public.

    “Evidence gathered over the past two years from donor testimonies and recipient accounts suggests significant ethical breaches, including exploitation of vulnerable donors from local communities. This has not only endangered the health of both donors and recipients but has also damaged the reputation of Kenya’s medical community internationally.” reads the report seen by Kenya Insights.

    The association emphasizes on both physical and psychological well-being of the donors.

    “Kidney donors play an essential role in transplantation, receiving no physical benefits and relying solely on the psychological and spiritual satisfaction of aiding another. Ethical handling and extensive pre-and post-operative care are crucial fo ensuring their health and well-being.”

    In condemning Mediheal, the association has raised alarm over diminishing trust between donors and practitioners that could arise from unethical practices like that of Mediheal.

    “Unethical practices undermine the trust in voluntary donation, leading to a decrease in willing donors and increasing the costs associated with organ transplants. This fosters a harmful black market for organs, with potential risks including human trafficking and violence.”

    Report further claims that the transplants are being done at the hospital ‘under the watch of relevant ministry officials’ and has called on the Government to intervene. “The issue of illegal kidney transplants has been a significant and troubling problem, stemming from a complex interplay of poverty, lack of regulation and exploitation. Vulnerable populations, particularly those from impoverished backgrounds, are often targeted by organ trafficking networks,” notes the report.

    Report further states that these networks deceive or coerce individuals into selling their kidneys, often for a fraction of the potential market value.  Operations frequently occur under unsafe conditions, posing severe health risks to the donors, it notes.

    Report indicates that the trade is fueled by the high demand for kidney transplants and the shortage of legally available organs.

    “Inadequate legal frameworks and corruption within certain segments of the medical community allow this illicit activity to persist,” it says.

    The report claims the kidneys are shipped overseas where they are sold for as much as Sh4 million.

    Suspend Mediheal

    Committee has made five recommendations to the CEOs of the Kenya Blood and Transplant Authority and Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Council including;

    1. Suspend Mediheal Hospital’s license pending a full investigation.
    2. Suspend the licenses of all medical personnel involved and initiate disciplinary actions.
    3. Review and potentially revise the regulatory role of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council concerning Mediheal Hospital.
    4. Direct the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to expedite legal actions against individuals involved in illegal transplant activities.
    5. Publicize the findings and recommendations of the Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Services report.

    Commitment

    The Kenya Renal Association, along with other medical bodies has reiterated commitment to uphold ethical transplant practices and offers continued support fo victims of these unethical practices, ensuring their health and privacy.

    The committee has called for immediate and decisive actions to eliminate these unethical practices as evidenced by Mediheal to protect the integrity of kidney transplantation in Kenya and ensure the safety and well-being of all patients and donors involved.

    The report seen by Kenya Insights has been signed by Kenya Renal Association (KRA) Dr. Jonathan Wala, Kenya Association of urological Surgeons/KAUS/Dr. Patick Mburugua, Kenya Association of Physicians (KAP) Dr. Erick Njenga and Renal/ Partients Society of Kenya (RPSK) Mr. John Gikonyo.

    Mishra’s woes

    The hospital which is associated with the immediate former Kesses Member of Parliament Dr. Swarup Mishra has been clouded with endless woes that has seen it shutdown many of its branches across the country including the Eldoret branch that served as its main branch amid financial crisis.

    An auction slated for July 2, 2024 by Eldoret-based Jomuki Auctioneers lists four prime properties owned by Dr Mishra and his wife under Mediheal Group Limited, including 50 acres of land in Ngeria, Uasin Gishu county, and two acres in Elgon View Estate, as well as the land that housed his former Constituency Development Fund (CDF) offices while he served as Kesses MP.

    The properties have been put up for sale due to multi-million loan arrears owed to banks by the businessman-turned-politician who runs the once vibrant Mediheal Group of hospitals with branches in parts of the country, including the Mediheal Eldoret Fertility Centre.

    Last year, the High Court issued an injunction restraining the sale of the politician’s prime properties in Eldoret town over a Sh61 million loan arrears. This came after the former MP, his wife Pallavi Rajthan and their hospital, Mediheal Diagnostics and Fertility Centre, sued Legacy Auctioneer Services and Commercial International Bank (CIB) Kenya Limited.

    Fall of Mediheal

    During the visit by the Parliamentary Committee on Health to the Mediheal facility, the management attributed the facility’s failure to the government’s withdrawal of medical coverage and the State’s non-payment of NHIF funds to the hospital for no apparent reason.

    It emerged that since 2021, the facility had received about Sh1.7 billion from NHIF in the form of claims.

    “We have checked the hospital’s records and we have not found any discrepancies. We feel sorry for this hospital and we will write our report and table it in Parliament,” said the chairperson of the parliamentary committee, Dr Robert Pukose, during the visit.

    The team was touring selected health facilities to assess whether some were being paid fraudulently by NHIF, following reports that showed some were colluding with the health insurer to make fraudulent claims.

    The Mediheal Group of Hospitals has five state-of-the-art facilities in Eldoret, Nakuru and Nairobi, and outreach centres in Kisumu and Kakamega. There were plans to open more facilities in other towns such as Naivasha as part of an expansion strategy.

    Mishras’ Eldoret facility was the first to open under the Mediheal group of hospitals, becoming operational in December 2004, and had been expanding slowly until the recent financial difficulties.

    By 2015, the owners had established more than three facilities offering general medicine and other specialities, including IVF and kidney transplants. By then, the facility had performed more than 300 kidney transplants.

    Mediheal’s financial problems began two years ago when some insurance companies stopped covering teachers, police officers and other civil servants who sought medical treatment at its facilities, without informing them of the reasons.

  • Mishra Owned Mediheal Hospital Ropped In A Series Of Scandals With Patients

    Mishra Owned Mediheal Hospital Ropped In A Series Of Scandals With Patients

    Mediheal Hospital doesn’t seem to catch a breath anymore from complaints and accusations from patients. A doctor at the Mediheal Diagnostic and Fertility Centre Limited, a subsidiary of Mediheal Group of Hospitals owned by Indian born self-declared obstetric gynaecologist from Odisha, India, cum politician Dr. Swarup Ranjan Mishra, former Kesses Member of Parliament (MP) have been ordered to pay over Sh1.1 million to a woman they agreed to collect an egg from last year to give to an unknown recipient.

    Swarup Mishra.

    The Nairobi-based hospital and a doctor at the facility Dr Shaunak Khandwala were ordered by Milimani Magistrate Lucy Njora to pay the plaintiff, Anatasha Chepngeno (code-named AC), Sh1,139,665.06 for breach of contract.

    Mediheal and Khandawala have been given 10 days to pay the ordered amount to lawyer Geoffrey Langat of Fatah Advocates.

    Through a ruling delivered on August 9, 2023, in default of appearance after Mediheal and Khandawala failed to file a defence in the case filed by Langat in 2022, the magistrate ordered the facility and the doctor to settle the payment.

    “Take notice that an interlocutory judgement was entered against you (Mediheal and Dr Khandwala) in default of appearance. A decree and certificate of costs were drawn and decretal sum now payable to plaintiff (woman identified AC) is Sh1,139,665.” Langat states in the demand for pay to the hospital dated August 10, 2023.

    According to the ruling, the hospital and the doctor have been ordered to pay within 10 days, failing which auctioneers will descend on their property to recover the said amount.

    On January 30, 2023, the magistrate   entered a judgment against the medic and the health facility when they failed to respond to the case filed last year for breach of contract.

    “Judgement is hereby entered for the plaintiff as against the defendants (Mediheal and Dr Khandwala) in the sum of Sh950,000 plus costs and interest.” Milimani Magistrate Njora ruled.

    The interests was set at Sh132,115.06 while the legal and other costs were set at Sh57,550.

    In the undefended suit, Anatasha Chepngeno told the court that on November 6, 2021, she entered into a written contract with the defendants to be an egg donor.

    The defendants thereafter “put the plaintiff (ac) through a follicle retrieval (IVP) procedure which could lead to the extraction of the follicle.”

    The court heard that the procedure, which could take 45 days, involved laboratory tests, a strict diet and 12 injections that could disrupt her normal menstrual cycle and disrupt the natural hormonal process.

    “The process was to finally lead to induced extraction/harvest of the ovum by Khandwala to be sold to recipients not known to AC.” Langat stated in the evidence to the court.

    According to the agreement, Anatasha was to be paid Sh950,000.

    However, Langat told the court that a copy of the agreement was not issued to his client Anatasha when both parties executed it.

    On December 15, 2022, when the plaintiff was due to harvest the follicles, the defendants terminated the said agreement and chased Anatasha away “without proper communication or counselling”.

    The court heard that as a result, the process was unilaterally stopped by the defendants and she was later given medication which led to “painful follicles, causing her to go through a long period of pain and suffering”.

    Langat told the court that failing to complete the agreed-upon process resulted in psychological torture for the complainant.

    The judge heard that the woman could be suffering from the effects of hormonal imbalance, leading to unusually moody moments that have affected her normal daily activities.

    Langat told the court the woman had suffered loss and damage.

    In her ruling, the judge said the plaintiff had proved her case against the defendants and granted judgment in her favour.

    Organ Trafficking

    Despite being Buoyed as a thriving medical transformation center after undertaking over 200 kidney transplants since the inauguration of the hospital’s Kidney transplant Unit in 2019, the much hyped  Mediheal Group of Hospitals continue to be dogged by endless disputes.

    Mediheal has numerously been in the public limelight over accusations of organ transplant and trafficking allegations, claims that the hospital and the alleged patient identified as John Kogo from Eldoret vehemently disowned.

    While seeking gag orders from the matter being publicised, in an affidavit, Mishra said that the organ transplant trafficking allegations were severely denting the image of the hospital locally and internationally.

    The allegations led to panic among current and potential patients, investors, partners, financiers and donors resulting in loss of business and opportunities which is hurting the hospital irreparably.

    Separately, in July 2021, the facility was ordered to pay a former employee Sh2million as damages for testing her HIV status without her consent and disclosing the results to third parties in July last year.

    Justice Hellen Ong’udi directed Mediheal Group of Hospitals and Mediheal Hospital Eastleigh to pay the woman, code-named Rao, money for emotional and psychological distress as a result of the stigma she suffered as a result.

    The judge increased the Sh900, 000 award given to the woman by the HIV and Aids Tribunal in November 2020.

    Justice Ong’undi said the tribunal’s amount was too low and it had failed to consider that Ms Rao also lost her job.

    The court dismissed a counterclaim by the hospital seeking damages from Ms Rao for bad publicity it claimed it suffered and an outstanding hospital bill of Sh33, 067.

    In yet another labour dispute matter, the hospital was on the spot for unfairly terminating eight nurses over the disappearance of two patients who had pending bills.

    The eight employees including five nurses and three nursing aids accused Mediheal Hospital management of unfair termination saying it was not their duty to guard discharged patients.

    The labour officer Joel Omweno directed the hospital’s management to settle the matter within a week, failing to which legal action was to be taken.

    “The eight employees reported the unfair termination and lack of the management’s willingness to pay their terminal dues.” Omweno said.

    Omweno called upon the hospital management to settle the one-month pay in lieu of notice, any pending leave, unpaid days worked, any overtime worked and rest days.

    Peril Cheruto, a nurse who was among the victims, said the patients who had been discharged disappeared at the facility on March 5 and 10 respectively.

    “Nurses do not have an obligation to handle patients who have been discharged. The two disappeared during the day and having been mobile patients, they were not under our watch,” Cheruto said.

    One patient, who had been involved in an accident and was treated at the facility, escaped without paying Sh85, 000. The other patient was in the private suite and was to pay Sh400, 000.

    Despite Mediheal being a private hospital, it’s still under the control of the Ministry of Health guidelines in one way or the other and needs certification from MoH to operate or to confirm such claims like Mediheal just did.

    The MediHeal Hospital has branches in Nairobi, Nakuru, Uganda and Rwanda.