Once a beacon of advanced healthcare in Eldoret and a major employer with over 4,000 staff, Mediheal Hospital now stands eerily quiet along Nairobi Road. The hospital’s dramatic decline comes amid a swirling investigation into alleged illegal kidney transplants a scandal that has rocked the local community and drawn national attention.
The facility, founded by Dr Swarrup Mishra, was once bustling with patients and medical professionals. Mishra, a former Kesses MP and prominent philanthropist, had previously enjoyed considerable influence in the region. However, his fortunes appear to have shifted following a political fallout with the Kenya Kwanza coalition, despite a recent appointment as chairman of the Biovax board.
Today, the hospital operates with only a skeleton staff. “Except for a few patients who walk in at times, we are just idle waiting for any instructions that may come,” said a caretaker at the facility. The multi-billion shilling institution now resembles a ghost town, its once-busy wards and corridors largely empty.
The controversy surrounding Mediheal has sparked widespread concern, particularly after Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi demanded a comprehensive investigation into the alleged illicit kidney trade. Speaking at the Eldoret Pioneer DCC Women’s Conference, Sudi emphasised the need to address the matter with seriousness and avoid politicising such a grave issue.
Human rights activists have echoed his sentiments. Kipkorir Ngetich of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy called for full disclosure of the findings, stating, “This is a serious matter that touches on life and Kenyans want to know the whole truth.”
Catholic Bishop of Eldoret, Dominic Kimengich, has also weighed in, urging decisive action against those found culpable. “If human organs are being sold illegally, then it’s a crime against humanity,” he noted.
As investigations unfold, Mediheal’s future remains uncertain. Once a pillar of healthcare in the North Rift, it now finds itself at the center of a national scandal its reputation tarnished, and its halls hauntingly quiet. Whether it can reclaim its former glory will depend largely on the outcome of the ongoing probe and the restoration of public trust.
