Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale appointed a 13-member committee that will oversee a probe into claims of illegal organ trafficking at Mediheal Hospital in Eldoret.
The process is expected to be complete within three months.
In a gazette notice on Wednesday, Duale appointed Prof. Elizabeth Bukusi to chair the Independent Investigative Committee on Tissue and Organ Transplant Services which brings together medical practitioners, scholars and regulatory bodies.
Members of the committee will include; Dr. Jonathan Wala Ameyo, Prof. Ahmed Sokwala, Dr. Prexedes Okutoyi, Dr. Patrick Mburugu, Dr. Noelle Atieno Orata, Dr. Ann Kasyoka Barasa, Dr. Diviner Kemunto Nyarera, Dr. Wendy Kimbui, Sara Talaso Bonaya, Dr. Charles Kandie, Joseph Ndirangu, and Larica Onam.
Duale also named a Secretariat composed of three other members to the team, namely; Dr. Stella Kanja, Rueben Tulei, and Jedidah Effie Oduor.
The team has been directed to among other things investigate the allegations of illegal organ transplant and organ trafficking at Mediheal by talking to medical professionals involved in the process, donors and recipients over the last five years.
They are also expected to determine whether there were instances of commercialisation, coercion, organ trafficking, or violations of the Human Tissue Act.
Their mandate will further include probing all facilities offering transplant services to establish the status of compliance.
Mediheal Hospital is currently under investigation for allegedly harvesting kidneys from poor Kenyans who are reportedly paid Ksh.294,000 and then selling them to recipients in foreign countries for Ksh.3.2 million each.
Duale has since suspended all kidney transplant services at the hospital until further notice to investigate the claims.
He redirected all patients seeking transplant-related services to attend any of the eight licensed kidney transplant facilities.
These include Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Aga Khan University Hospital, MP Shah Hospital, Nairobi Hospital, St Luke’s Hospital-Eldoret, Nairobi West Hospital and Mater Hospital.
President William Ruto has also suspended Mediheal founder, and former Kesses Member of Parliament, Dr. Swarup Mishra from his position as chair of the Kenya BioVax Institute until the probe is complete.
The Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) of the DCI has taken over for investigation, the case where Mediheal Hospital is implicated in the trafficking of human organs harvested at its Fertility and Transplant Centre in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu county.
Whereas a number of such cases have been reported at various police stations and DCI offices across the North Rift region, TOCU takes over to harmonize all reports and statements previously recorded, record fresh statements from victims, suspects and anyone with relevant information, as well as employ forensic analysis for a painstaking probe.
DCI boss Mohamed Amin called on any persons (victims or otherwise) who may have information that could help in the highlighted matter are, therefore, called upon to record their statements with the Head of TOCU at the offices held at DCI Headquarters, Block B.
The hospital was last week closed as the probe into the claims gather pace.
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health has launched a comprehensive 80-day public inquiry into allegations of unethical kidney transplant procedures at the branch.
The move follows mounting public concern and a recent exposé implicating the hospital in possible breaches of professional ethics, transplant tourism, and the commercialization of organ donations.
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