Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called for the urgent enactment of organ donation and transplant legislation, citing a growing demand for transplants and the need to ensure ethical and safe medical procedures.
Speaking during a visit to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Research, and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH), CS Duale applauded the facility for successfully conducting its first kidney transplant — a milestone he termed significant not only for the hospital but for Kenya’s broader healthcare system.
“Beyond this clinical feat, I wish to underscore the urgent need to establish a robust regulatory framework for organ donation and transplantation in Kenya,” said the CS.
The Health CS warned against seeking transplants in unlicensed or questionable facilities, urging Kenyans to use approved public health institutions. He emphasized that increasing the number of kidney transplants in the country would help reduce the burden of dialysis in both public and private hospitals.
“Don’t go to those facilities that are under investigation. Go to the right facilities,” Duale cautioned.
He highlighted KUTRRH as a centre of excellence equipped with modern diagnostic and treatment technologies, including advanced cancer care and heart disease management. The hospital, he noted, is an essential pillar in the government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
Duale pledged that the Ministry of Health would continue to support the hospital in its mission to deliver world-class healthcare and reduce the country’s reliance on outbound medical travel.
“We must reverse the trend of outbound medical travel by investing in local excellence, training, and infrastructure,” he said.
He also assured Kenyans that the Ministry is actively reviewing existing health laws and policies to guard against abuse in the organ transplant space and ensure all procedures are conducted fairly and transparently.
“The Ministry is committed to protecting both patients and donors by ensuring organ transplants are carried out in a just and accountable manner,” added the CS.
