A special investigative committee has called for criminal charges to be levelled against Swarup Mishra, the founder of Mediheal Hospital, over his alleged role in an international organ trafficking ring.
The 13-member team, which was appointed by the government in April, handed over its findings to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Tuesday, July 22.
After three months of inquiry, the committee said it had found serious irregularities in how the hospital handled tissue and organ transplants, naming Mishra as a central figure in the alleged syndicate.
The report, which analyzed transplant records from as far back as 2018, examined 452 donors and 447 recipients. Of these, Mediheal alone accounted for 417 donors and 340 recipients, making it the largest focus of the inquiry.
The majority of patients were male, roughly three out of four and 44 per cent were Kenyan. Another 17 per cent were foreigners, while the identities of 38 per cent of recipients could not be verified.
Israel and Uganda topped the list of countries with foreign recipients, followed by Somalia, Burundi, Ethiopia, Germany, and the United States.
CS Duale, speaking after receiving the 313-page report, acknowledged the severity of the committee’s recommendations.
“They’ve told me who to hold accountable. They’ve told me where our laws fall short. They’ve shown us where the moral and ethical lines were crossed,” he said.Among the more troubling findings were inconsistencies in donor signatures and suspicious relationships between donors and recipients.
In several cases, individuals were labeled as “mutual friends” raising questions about how consent was obtained.
The report also pointed out the unsafe medical practices. One surgeon and one anesthesiologist were found to have operated on 24 patients in just 14 days, as this appeared to be an unusually high number that raised concerns about patient safety and proper oversight.
The committee also named three other doctors it wants investigated and possibly charged over their involvement.
Health Ministry is now expected to act on the recommendations provided
