Mediheal Group of Hospitals is set for a major reprieve after a parliamentary committee recommended the lifting of sanctions imposed over its alleged involvement in the kidney transplant controversy.

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In a report tabled before the National Assembly, MPs called for the reinstatement of licences for Mediheal and two other health facilities that had been implicated in alleged breaches of transplant procedures.

Mediheal Group of Hospitals is linked to former Kesses MP Swarup Mishra.

The other facilities include St Luke’s Orthopaedic and Trauma Hospital and Oak Tree Centre for Kidney and Chronic Diseases.

The licences, however, do not extend to those related to organ transplants.

The committee noted that this matter is under active investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

“Any sanctions placed on Mediheal Group of Hospitals, St Luke’s Orthopaedic and Trauma Hospital and Oak Tree Centre for Kidney and Chronic Diseases, including suspension of licences, be lifted, with the exception of licences related to organ transplant,” the health committee report states.

In April 2025, Health CS Aden Duale ordered the immediate suspension of all kidney transplant services at the Eldoret-based hospital following allegations of malpractice and ethical violations.

The committee found that, while there were regulatory gaps in the sector, there was insufficient evidence to sustain punitive action against the hospitals.

The committee, chaired by Seme MP James Nyikal, also wants the police oversight agency, IPOA, to investigate failures at Langas police station in addressing complaints filed by the public regarding alleged kidney transplant activities.

The MPs have also directed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to probe the reluctance of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) over alleged inaction despite numerous complaints.

“The Independent Policing Oversight Authority should investigate allegations of law enforcement failures at Langas police station in addressing reports filed by the public regarding alleged unethical kidney transplant activities at Mediheal Hospital, Eldoret, alleged interference with the due administration of justice and intimidation of witnesses and their families by police officers,” the report indicates.

“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission should investigate KMPDC’s potential regulatory failure arising from its documented failure to act upon multiple written complaints regarding alleged illegalities in organ transplants across the country.”

The legislators instead shifted focus to systemic weaknesses, urging the Ministry of Health and relevant regulatory agencies to strengthen oversight of organ transplant services across the country.

“To strengthen the legal and regulatory framework, the committee recommends the enactment of a comprehensive Blood, Cell and Organ Transplant Law to provide a clear governance structure, including the establishment of a National Organ Transplant Authority, a national transplant registry and a transparent organ allocation system,” the committee recommends.

“That the KMPDC, the Nursing Council of Kenya, the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board develop an inspection and enforcement protocol, including inspections of all licensed transplant facilities; a professional credentialing register for transplant practitioners; a mechanism for receiving and addressing complaints from the public and from whistleblowers; and a sanctions framework for non-compliance.”

The MPs noted that inconsistencies in enforcement and supervision had contributed to the confusion surrounding the alleged violations, exposing the need for clearer guidelines and stronger institutional coordination.

At the height of the saga, Mediheal and the other facilities faced possible closure and licence withdrawal following claims of irregularities in kidney transplant procedures, sparking public concern over the integrity of organ donation processes in Kenya.

The committee’s findings now pave the way for the affected hospitals to resume normal operations, even as authorities move to tighten scrutiny in the sensitive sector.

The Nyikal team observed that Mediheal Group of Hospitals conducted a total of 476 kidney transplants between 2018 and March 2025.

These services were suspended in April 2025 following the directive by the Cabinet Secretary for Health.