Dr. A. Srinivas Murthy, Chief Consultant Nephrologist at Mediheal Hospital speaking before The National Assembly’s Health Committee on November 10, 2025. Photo by PBU 
By Andrew Mbuva
The National Assembly’s Health Committee has put Mediheal Group of Hospitals on the spot over alleged irregularities in its kidney transplant program, including claims of organ harvesting and questionable patient recruitment.
Chaired by Dr. James Nyikal (Seme), the committee questioned Dr. A. Srinivas Murthy, Chief Consultant Nephrologist at Mediheal, on the hospital’s transplant procedures, donor sourcing, and ethical compliance.
Dr. Murthy denied any wrongdoing, insisting all surgeries comply with Kenyan law. “There is no organ harvesting happening in Mediheal or anywhere else in Kenya to my knowledge,” he said.
He noted that Kenya only permits live donations from relatives or close acquaintances, unlike countries with structured deceased donor programs. “The absence of a deceased donor framework continues to disadvantage patients who lack suitable living donors,” he added.
Endebes MP Dr. Robert Pukose questioned inconsistencies in patient affidavits, citing cases involving foreigners on medical visas. “If a patient came on a medical visa, they must have been diagnosed abroad. But the documents show otherwise,” he said.
Dr. Murthy explained that some patients arrive before starting dialysis and are later confirmed to have advanced kidney disease.
Mediheal Chairperson Dr. Swarup Mishra said the hospital initially relied on Indian experts but has since trained Kenyan nurses and technicians. “We started with Indian renal and ICU nurses. Today, all are Kenyans,” he said, lamenting a shortage of local nephrologists.
Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi urged for an overhaul of Kenya’s organ donation laws. Dr. Nyikal confirmed that a Transplant and Organ Donation Bill is currently under review by Parliament’s Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Dr. Mishra dismissed social media claims linking Mediheal to organ trafficking. “False statements were made in 2018, 2019, and 2021. We took legal action. It’s time to treat Africans in Africa,” he said.
The committee vowed to scrutinize all documents and may recall witnesses before releasing its findings. “We will review every affidavit carefully,” said Dr. Nyikal.
