'We were given Ksh.50,000 upfront': Kenyans reveal to MPs how they were duped into donating kidneys

Two victims, Emmanuel Kipkosgei and Amon Kipruto, who are still nursing the effects of living with one kidney, told MPs that the organ trafficking was a well-coordinated scheme involving multiple hospitals in Eldoret.

The committee also grilled top police officials in Uasin Gishu and the management of Mediheal Group of Hospitals, which is at the center of the allegations.

On the second day of their fact-finding mission, members of the National Assembly Health Committee came face to face with the victims in an in-camera session that sought to give justice to the victims. 

Emmanuel Kipkosgei and Amon Kipruto are among the tens who are suffering in silence. Kipkosgei remembers the day he was lured into the trap by being taken to a posh house in Elgon View Estate where, together with 13 others, they allegedly met a doctor.

"Kidogo daktari mwingine akakuja hapo akatu convince convince akatuelezea, me nikaona hiyo biashara itakuwa ngumu lakini mzee mwingine mweupe akatokea akatupea 50,000 cash kila mtu so me sikuwai shika pesa mingi hivyo nikaona ni kama nitapata pesa nyingi sana," Kipkosgei noted. 

The allure of more cash pushed him to agree to the deal. Together with a friend, they went to one of the hospitals in Eldoret Town where tests were done for three weeks.

At one point, they traveled to Nairobi for more tests before the operation that was performed at a different facility from the one conducting the tests. By this time, he was given a new identity to conceal the truth.

"Nilikuwa nimepromisiwa Ksh.1.2 million lakini nilipewa Ksh.400,000," he added. 

He says the brokers asked for part of the money. Three days later, he was arrested and detained for four days on allegations of being involved in an illegal business. He believes it was a setup.

Kipkosgei added, "Kuwauliza wapi makosa hawaniambi kitu wananiambia wewe tuambie tu vile ulienda hii shughuli hivi na hivi."

For Kipruto, the pay at a construction site where he used to work was too meagre to sustain him. When a friend proposed the deal, he didn’t think twice about the consequences. All he wanted was some quick cash, a decision that left him with life-threatening injuries and put his family in danger.

Others who appeared before the committee included the Uasin Gishu Police Commander and the Uasin Gishu County Criminal Investigations Officer. Later, MPs toured Mediheal Hospital, grilled the management, and assessed the situation on the ground.