Duale appears before Senate over organ transplant concerns at an Eldoret hospital
By Cynthia Lodite, May 7, 2026The Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Health to address concerns surrounding organ transplant services at an Eldoret-based hospital.
In his address on Thursday, May 7, 2026, the Health CS explained measures taken by the Ministry after receiving a letter from the Transplantation Society a non-governmental organisation, alleging suspected organ trafficking in Eldoret.
On his part, Duale explained that in August 2023, the Ministry of Health received the information on the organ trafficking through the Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Services.
“In August 2023, the Ministry of Health, through the Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Services (KBTTS), received a letter from the Transplantation Society non-Governmental Organization (NGO) alleging suspected organ trafficking in Eldoret,” Duale stated.
In his report, Duale noted that swiftly after the report, in December 2023, the Ministry of Health constituted a multidisciplinary fact-finding team to investigate the allegations.
The team comprised transplant specialists, bioethicists, representatives from the Kenya Blood Transfusion and TransplantKBTTS, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), senior Ministry officials, and academic experts.
Their terms of reference were to examine the claims raised by the Transplantation Society, audit the transplant procedures undertaken at the Eldoret-based Hospital, and assess compliance with clinical protocols, ethical standards, and legal frameworks.
The report
According to Duale, upon completion of the assignment by the team, the report provided was not unanimously endorsed by some team members. Thus, the report was not formally submitted to the Ministry of Health for consideration or action.
Hence, as a result, Duale explained that the findings and recommendations from the report were deemed non-binding and without legal or administrative standing.
The Health CS went on to explain that on 25th April 2025, he went ahead to suspend the officers responsible at the KBTTS to facilitate a transparent and impartial process.
“I subsequently appointed the Independent Investigative Committee on Organ Transplant Services (IICOTS), comprising independent experts drawn from both public and private sector institutions, professional medical associations, and relevant regulatory bodies,” Duale stated.
Among the terms of reference for the Independent Committee was to conduct a comprehensive audit of all organ transplant facilities in Kenya.
As well as to investigate the governance, clinical practices, ethical and legal compliance, and patient safety standards at the Eldoret-based Hospital;
While also making clear, actionable recommendations for strengthening transplant services nationwide.
Final report to the Ministry
Duale further noted that the Committee submitted its final report to the Ministry at the end of July 2025, with some of the recommendations to the Ministry of Health already being implemented.
However, the Health CS went on to explain that the culpability of the Eldoret-based hospital rests with the relevant investigative agencies, including Parliament and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
“I am aware that the National Assembly has completed its investigations; however, the Ministry is yet to receive the official report. As for the DCI, investigations are still ongoing, and we await the final report,” Duale added.