It has now emerged that the organ harvesting syndicate in the North Rift region did not involve Mediheal Group of Hospitals alone, it was merely one of the conduits.
Investigations have revealed that the criminal network behind the illicit trade in human organs spans multiple facilities and involves a complex web of actors, including rogue medical practitioners, unscrupulous middlemen, and poorly regulated private clinics operating under the radar.
According to Nandi Hills MP Hon. Benard Kitur, who also the whistleblower, the syndicate has been active for years, preying on vulnerable patients and exploiting regulatory loopholes.
Appearing before the Departmental Committee on Health chaired by Seme MP Dr. James Nyikal, the network reportedly targets impoverished individuals in remote villages, luring them with false promises of high-paying “medical opportunities” or misleading them into consenting to procedures under false pretenses.
“While Mediheal Group of Hospitals has remained at the centre of public scrutiny, new evidence suggests that it is part of a larger system in which several private health institutions, both licensed and unlicensed, may be complicit in illegal kidney transplants and unethical organ procurement practices,” Hon. Kitur told the committee on Thursday.
Citing the case of Emmanuel Kipkosgey, whose organs were allegedly harvested, Hon. Benard Kitur narrated how the young man was lured with promises of a better life, improved health, and substantial financial compensation in exchange for his kidneys.
“Emmanuel Kipkosgey underwent an illegal kidney harvesting procedure. He was promised Ksh 1.2 million, but only received a deposit of Ksh 50,000 prior to the operation and Ksh 400,000 afterwards. The balance was never paid,” Hon. Kitur revealed.
“Despite his deteriorating health condition, Kipkosgey continues to suffer without the full compensation he was promised.”
The revelations come as the Departmental Committee on Health begins its 90-day public inquiry into alleged malpractice and ethical breaches in kidney transplant services.
The inquiry, which kicked off on Thursday, 5th June 2025, is expected to shed light on the scale of the problem and recommend firm legislative and administrative actions.
“There are brokers, middlemen, who approached these young men while they were relaxing at shopping centers one evening. They told them there was an easy way to make money: just go into town, undergo a simple procedure, and walk away with cash,” Hon. Kitur said.
“As you will hear from the testimonies, several young people were targeted. In this particular case, the young man was first taken to another hospital—whose name I will withhold for now—before being transferred to Mediheal Hospital. He was initially tested at a different facility within Eldoret. Once the tests confirmed he was a suitable donor, his organs were harvested.”
Seme MP Dr. James Nyikal, who chairs the committee, raised concerns over the procedural irregularities surrounding the alleged organ harvesting incident, particularly the lack of transparency about the initial medical assessments.
He questioned where the victim, Emmanuel Kipkosgey, was first tested to determine his suitability as a kidney donor before the procedure was carried out.
“Which hospital did he go to for testing?” Dr. Nyikal asked. “From what I’m hearing, it seems the process was prearranged. Before undergoing the operation, the individual was required to get tested elsewhere. We need clarity on where this initial testing took place.”
Kilgoris MP Hon. Julius Sunkuli expressed concern over the deliberate withholding of information during the inquiry, particularly the refusal to name the hospital where the alleged organ harvesting victim was first tested.
His remarks came after Hon. Kitur declined to disclose the identity of the facility, citing unspecified reasons.
“Is there any valid reason why the name of the hospital should be concealed?” Hon. Sunkuli asked, suggesting that withholding such critical information could undermine the integrity and transparency of the ongoing investigations.
However, Endebess MP Dr. Robert Pukose expressed a differing view during the inquiry, urging the committee to broaden its scope and avoid focusing solely on one institution.
Dr. Pukose, who is also a medical doctor, emphasized the need for a more expansive investigation to uncover the full extent of the alleged organ harvesting syndicate.
“Chair, from that statement by Hon. Kitur, it’s clear that this issue is not limited to just one hospital,” he said. “What’s emerging is that multiple hospitals may be involved in this process. My concern is, why single out only one? If several facilities are implicated, then focusing on just one raises questions. We need a broader investigation that captures the full scope of the malpractice.”
Dr. Nyikal in response emphasized the importance of thorough fact-finding during the probe saying that the existent of the organ harvesting syndicate may be broader and may need more comprehensive inquiry.
“The witness, says there is a syndicate, and when it’s a syndicate, it means we might have to investigate more people and more hospitals.
Ndhiwa MP Hon. Martins Owino urged caution, invoking wisdom in handling the matter carefully.
“We should avoid revealing everything all at once, because the more information we disclose prematurely, the more we alert these syndicates. Some may then go underground,” he warned.
He added that conducting in-camera sessions and holding private interviews with the victims would be the most effective approach at this stage.
Preliminary reports indicate that some of the surgeries were performed without proper medical records, informed consent, or follow-up care, with some donors suffering severe health complications or disappearing entirely.
It is also alleged that falsified documents and fake donor-recipient matching records were used to facilitate the procedures.
