Former immediate Kesses Member of Parliament MP Swarup Mishra is on the radar of investigating agencies amid increasing reports of commercialization of human organs and transplant tourism.
According to a document in the hands of investigate journalists and members of the Crime Journalist Association (CJAK), the hospital has restarted what the Renal Association of Kenya (RAK) termed as unethical kidney transplant at the Eldoret based Mediheal Group of Hospitals.
While riding on the Raila-Ruto alliance, Mishra, who backed Azimio during the 2022 elections, has been in the political cold. In response, Mishra opted to close the group of hospitals. When asked, the ex-Kases legislator cited “frustrations by the Ruto administration.” The hospital founder has severally asked President Ruto for forgiveness, saying his political choice “was the beginning of his woes.”
However in May 2024, the renal association stated in a statement that they have received reports indicating an increasing trend of “transplant commercialization and transplant tourism” at the hospital which is prohibited by law.
“This is in direct violation of the World Health Organization resolutions, the Declaration of Istanbul, and Kenya’s Health Act 01 2017. which prohibits organ trade,” read the statement in part.
Despite several ongoing investigations into the ill-fated facility, its emerging that the hospital has conducted over 100 unrelated cases of kidney transplants.
“The unprocedural operations are usually carried out by two doctors (Nephrologists) with the aid of two nurses at the nephrology department,” a report by the Crime Journalist Association of Kenya said in part.
“We have also established in our probe that for each case to be handled, there has been an undeclared amount of money ranging between Sh 300,000-Sh 400,000 which we understand is a bribe to circumvent the laid out procedures,” the report added.
According to officials at the Renal Association of Kenya, Mishra is “trying to use Raila Odinga as a cover to protect Mediheal’s illicit practices.”
We have attempted to seek a response from the hospital in vain. However, the facility, which has since halted the renal transplants, said it would respond to the damning report “as soon as we can.”
