They came after our minerals first. Then it was the land. They evolved and went after our culture. But alas, it was not enough, because as i write this they are after our bodies. When does the exploitation of Africans stop – if ever?
Kidneys for Sale: How Desperation Fuels Kenya’s Organ Trafficking Crisis
In the heart of Kenya, a silent crisis is unfolding. Young men, driven by poverty and the hope for a better future (or is it simply the allure of a few quick bucks?), are selling their kidneys for as little as $1,000 and a motorbike. Meanwhile, these same organs are being sold to foreign recipients for up to $200,000. The middle men? German and Israeli nationals. Once again, foreigners are out to make a kill off the backs of young, vulnerable people. I mean, if this is a legit business, why not pay the market rate for these kidneys? I understand how capitalism works but making 5000% profit off a single organ is crazy work.
The Lure of Quick Money vs The Exploitation of Desperation
A 30-year-old from Eldoret was approached by a broker and promised $984 and a Boxer motorcycle. He agreed to donate his kidney and underwent tests in Eldoret, stayed under observation, and after the surgery, was given his motorbike and sent on his way. His story is not unique; brokers have reportedly recruited over 100 young men in Eldoret alone. Willing buyer willing seller I get, but when the rumours start doing the windmills of how the signed documents are never released to the donor, and how they are never really given the full payments they agreed on leaves more questions than answers.
A Global Network of Exploitation
Investigations have revealed that clinics and private hospitals in Eldoret are central to this illicit trade. Indian doctors are flown in to perform surgeries, and the harvested kidneys are supplied through the black market in India. Recipients, notably from countries like Germany, Israel and Japan, pay exorbitant amounts for these organs. Surprisingly, despite Germany’s ban on commercial organ sales, a German-registered website has been implicated in brokering these illegal deals. The ring is reportedly led by an Israeli company named Medlead. I read somewhere that it is no longer even about sick people that genuinely need their kidneys replaced but old wealthy people that just want younger kidneys.
What is interesting about all this is the fact that these syndicates have been there for years – decades even. X users from different parts of the world have come out to talk about it. Below are some of the tweets.
Meanwhile in other unrelated news; Does this then explain the rising femicide cases in Africa and specifically kenya? All those unidentified bodies in the quarries and where else; are women an easy target for their organs because of their vulnerability? Is there more to it than meets the eyes?
Legal Loopholes and Lack of Enforcement
Kenya’s Health Act of 2017 provides guidelines for organ donation to relatives or for scientific purposes but doesn’t explicitly outlaw the sale of organs. This legal gap has allowed the black market to thrive. As with everything else in Africa, enforcing penalties for organ harvesting remains a real challenge, especially when donors willingly sell their organs. Systemic corruption and the reluctance of victims to cooperate with officials mean convictions for illegal organ removals are rare. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/black-market-booming-as-organ-traffickers-prey-on-worlds-poor-hjrg0qwx8?utm_source=chatgpt.com
The Shakahola Scandal: A Sinister Connection?
The Shakahola massacre, where over 400 bodies were exhumed from mass graves linked to a religious cult led by Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, shocked the nation and world at large. While starvation was the primary cause of death, with the victims being promised to meet Jesus once they got to heaven – autopsies revealed that some victims had missing organs, including kidneys and eyes. Court documents suggest a well-coordinated network involved in organ harvesting. Despite the gravity of these findings, no one has been prosecuted for organ trafficking in connection with the Shakahola incident. According to this article by the guardian written over a year ago, “Autopsies on corpses found in mass graves linked to a religious cult in Kenya have revealed missing organs and raised suspicions of forced harvesting, investigators said, with a fresh round of exhumations to resume.”
Calls for Action
The Kenyan government has initiated investigations into hospitals like Mediheal in Eldoret, accused of being hubs for transplant tourism. While the hospital denies these allegations, the need for stringent regulations and enforcement is evident. The Kenyan Renal Association has called for the hospital’s license to be suspended due to evidence of commercialized transplants. Latest news & breaking headlines
This article aims to shed light on the dire situation and the urgent need for reforms to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
For a visual insight into this issue, you might find the following documentary informative:
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Note: This article is a collaborative effort to raise awareness about the ongoing organ trafficking crisis in Kenya. For further information or to report related incidents, please contact the relevant authorities.
