Kenya: Kidney Probe Launched, Clinic Denies Allegations

A Kenyan clinic accused of organ trafficking has denied any wrongdoing. The clinic promised to cooperate with a criminal investigation. This follows an inquiry by DW and two other German media outlets.

On Wednesday, Kenya's Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) began a full probe into illegal organ trafficking. The DCI's elite Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) is leading the investigation. Director Mohamed Amin stated they aim to ensure justice for victims.

The investigation comes after health authorities suspended all kidney transplant operations at Mediheal Group clinics. This suspension was ordered until further notice.

Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre in Eldoret held a press briefing on Wednesday. They denied any malpractice and pledged to cooperate with authorities. "We are clean, our services are clean," said the group's legal representatives.

They invited the government to audit their operations and mentioned that patients are ready to testify.

The scandal began last week due to an investigation by DW, ZDF, and Der Spiegel. They uncovered an international network involving organ donors and recipients coordinated by criminal brokers.

Kidney donors included vulnerable young Kenyans seeking money. Some sellers were flown in from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan. Desperate recipients paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in Israel and Germany.