Mediheal hospital in Eldoret have demanded Germany broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) to take down a story that they recently published alleging that the hospital engage in organ trafficking. Investigations revealed that patients from countries like Israel and Germany traveled to Kenya for kidney transplants, with donors reportedly sourced from vulnerable populations in Kenya and other nations such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan.
The hospital has however dismissed these claims saying that the publication was defamatory therefore ruining their image.
The controversy stems from DW’s recent documentary which allegedly implicated mediheal hospital to unethical practices that include organ trafficking, forged documentation and improper medical procedures.
According to mediheal’s lawyer, the story suggested that the hospital was a local partner in a kidney trafficking and conducted high-risk surgeries without proper documentation or informed consent. These allegations, the lawyer argues, are baseless and represent a gross distortion of facts.
Mediheal asserts that the report failed to provide evidence to prove its claims and violated fundamental principles of journalistic ethics by not seeking the hospital’s perspective or verifying the allegations prior to publication. The hospital maintains that it adheres to strict ethical and procedural guidelines for organ transplantation, as outlined by Kenyan authorities and international standards, including those set by the World Health Organization.
The hospital’s management has emphasized its commitment to providing world-class medical services and has called for DW to disclose the sources of the materials used in the story. Additionally, Mediheal seeks compensation for reputational damage and a written apology from DW to refrain from publishing defamatory content about the facility in the future.
This demand for retraction and apology comes amid broader scrutiny of Mediheal’s kidney transplant practices. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has suspended kidney transplant services at the hospital and initiated an independent audit to review its operations over the past five years. The investigation aims to address concerns raised by DW’s report and ensure compliance with ethical and legal standards.
