Exclusive: Mishra celebrates Mediheal's vindication by MPs

By Leon Lidigu
leonlidigu@gmail.com

“In the name of God, I told you I am innocent,” Mediheal Founder Dr Swarup Mishra declared as he celebrated the verdict by Kenyan MPs on Wednesday evening.

His remarks followed a recommendation by the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health to lift sanctions imposed on Mediheal Group of Hospitals, allowing the facility to resume general operations.

Despite the reprieve, MPs maintained that the suspension of licenses related to organ transplant services should remain in place.

Mediheal’s operating license had been suspended last year by Health CS Aden Duale over allegations of organ harvesting and ethical violations in its kidney transplant program.

However, the latest findings by the parliamentary committee established that there was no evidence linking foreign nationals involved in the hospital’s transplant services to illegal activities under Kenya’s legal framework, including the Health Act (Cap 241) and the Human Tissue Act (Cap 252).

The report also noted that investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are still ongoing.

“Any sanctions placed on the Mediheal Group of Hospitals, St. Luke’s Orthopaedic and Trauma Hospital, and Oak Tree Centre for Kidney and Chronic Disease, including the suspension of licences, be lifted, with the exception of licenses related to organ transplants,” the Committee ruled.

Committee Chair and Seme MP Dr James Nyikal highlighted Mediheal’s economic impact, noting that it provides livelihoods for thousands of Kenyans.

Two-year ordeal and legal battle

In an exclusive interview on Wednesday evening with Newsflash, Dr Mishra recounted the painful ordeal he has endured for nearly two years.

“I am just but a victim of Kenya not having any legal framework for organ donation and transplantation.

I told you last year that I know one day the truth will vindicate me because all I have ever done is to help make Kenya a better place by offering quality and affordable healthcare services. That day has come,” an elated Dr Mishra said as he teared up.

“Please be just to us because Mediheal doesn’t belong to Mishra, it belongs to Africa and Africans. We had employed 2,300 people who we have had to let go because of the current challenges.

If we are guilty of this, we will carry that cross, but in the name of God we are not,” he maintained.

Lawyers fault probe

In July 2025, Dr Mishra, flanked by nephrologist Dr A. S. Murthy and legal counsel Katwa Kigen and Oiboo Morintat, pushed back against findings of an 18-member investigative taskforce formed by Health CS Aden Duale.

The taskforce had recommended further investigations into what it described as potential criminal involvement in organ trafficking and possible violations of transplant laws and ethical standards.

However, Mediheal’s lawyers argued that the Ministry of Health had not supplied them with the report.

“We are compelled to come and explain ourselves here in very disadvantaged circumstances…the disadvantage being that up to now we have not been supplied with the report,” Mr Kigen said.

They maintained that Mediheal had submitted detailed patient records, consent affidavits, and documentation showing no monetary exchange between donors and recipients.

“We were very keen to see if there would be any alleged incident of ‘organ trafficking’ established…but based on their own findings…they found none,” the lawyer stated, adding that none of the 476 kidney transplants conducted had been linked to illegal activity.

The legal team further accused the committee of conducting a “fault-finding and not fact-finding” mission and questioned its composition for lacking legal experts despite making legal conclusions.

Dr Mishra also reflected on the hospital’s founding vision, stating that Mediheal aimed to make Kenya self-sufficient in healthcare and reduce the need for patients to seek treatment abroad.

He noted that the facility had grown into a medical tourism hub attracting patients from over 14 countries due to its infrastructure, skilled professionals, and affordable services.

Patients and donors also came forward in defense of the hospital.

Ivy Shannie, a mother who donated a kidney to her son in 2022, credited Mediheal with saving his life and sparing her the cost of seeking treatment in India.

Similarly, Rebecca from Kiambu said she voluntarily donated a kidney to her friend from Kakamega, insisting no payment or coercion was involved.