President William Ruto has officially suspended Dr. Swarup Mishra, the founder of Mediheal Hospital, from his role as chairperson of the Kenya BioVax Institute.
This decision, which takes effect immediately, comes in the wake of serious investigations into alleged unethical practices connected to illegal kidney transplant procedures.
In a formal statement released on Friday, April 18, President Ruto said the suspension will remain in place until investigations into the disturbing allegations are completed.
The allegations involve illegal and unethical organ transplant activities reportedly carried out at Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre located in Eldoret.
The suspension follows an explosive exposé by international media outlets, including Germany’s Deutsche Welle (DW), ZDF, and Der Spiegel.
The investigative reports revealed that Kenya is a key hub in a global organ trafficking network.
According to the exposé, some patients paid as much as $200,000 (about Ksh25.9 million) to receive kidney transplants through this illegal network.
The investigation exposed a disturbing reality where young people, lured by the promise of quick money, and older, desperate patients in need of life-saving transplants, were taken advantage of.
The global syndicate reportedly organizes the illegal transplants, recruiting local donors through paid referrals.
In some cases, donors were even brought into Kenya from countries such as Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan.
Further revelations indicated that many vulnerable Kenyans, often struggling with poverty, agreed to donate their kidneys for as little as Ksh294,000.
The organ recipients were mainly foreigners, with most coming from Germany and Israel. Many of these donors were misled, forced to sign documents they couldn’t understand, and later suffered serious health problems after the surgery.
When asked to respond, the Vice President of Mediheal Hospital defended the institution, stating that all kidney transplant procedures conducted there were done legally.
Speaking during an interview with Spice FM on Wednesday, April 16, the VP claimed that the hospital is not involved in finding donors.
Instead, she said that the patients themselves are responsible for sourcing their donors independently.
Despite this defense, the seriousness of the claims prompted President Ruto to take immediate action.
In his statement, he emphasized that the government remains firmly committed to protecting the integrity of Kenya’s healthcare system and ensuring the safety and rights of its citizens.
“The President reaffirms the Government’s commitment to fighting corruption, including upholding integrity in healthcare, public safety, and justice for victims,” the statement read.
Dr. Swarup Mishra had only recently been appointed to lead the board of the Kenya BioVax Institute in November 2024.
His appointment was supposed to last for three years, but the scandal has now placed his leadership in jeopardy, pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.
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