Prof Elizabeth Bukusi, CS Aden Duale and Public Health PS Mary Muthoni at the inauguration of the commitee at Afya House on April 25, 2025.
Independent committee to investigate tissue
and organ transplant services has officially been inaugurated by the Health Cabinet
Secretary Aden Duale.
The 13-member committee ,which was constituted
and gazetted following allegations of unethical breaches in kidney transplant
procedures at Mediheal Hospital, is chaired by Prof Elizabeth Bukusi, a chief research
officer at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri).
It has been tasked with the responsibility
to unravel the truth behind the allegations and formulate objective proposals
to be implemented by the Ministry of Health. They will also formulate a report
that will inform workflows across all medical services.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony,
the CS Duale said: “I have given you three months to complete your investigation and
submit a detailed report with concrete recommendations.”
He added: “We are not interested in optics or bureaucratic posturing.
We are interested in the truth, transparency and transformative justice.
Professor, we are confident in your leadership and your ability to steward this
process with independence, fairness, and the rigour it deserves.”
In her acceptance speech, Prof Bukusi said:
“I would like to affirm we are going to work as a team and deliver within the
timeframe set for us. I commit, me and my team will observe the highest level
of ethics, professionalism in the execution of this mandate. We shall endeavor
to give all parties a fair hearing and we will be guided by the existing laws
and guidelines. I want to assure you and all Kenyans; we are going to work with
speed and from a personal conviction I believe we will do this assignment
diligently to restore the trust of the Kenyan people to the medical services of
this country.”
Duale was joined at the brief inauguration
by Principal Secretaries Dr Ouma Oluga (Medical Services) and Mary Muthoni
(Public Health) and DG Health Dr Patrick Amoth.