Kenya's Illegal Kidney Trade: A Terrible Reality
In Western Kenya, a macabre organ trade has been booming, victimizing poor young men desperate to earn cash. Unemployment and poverty have pushed these young men to sell their kidneys to shrewd brokers for a quick buck, with hardly any knowledge of the long-term damage.
The Attractions of Easy Money
A kidney could earn approximately $1,000, along with a motorbike, a sweet deal for the poor. Joseph Japiny, 30, of Oyugis town, was a victim of this racket. He was offered $984 in cash and a motorbike of equal value if he would donate one of his kidneys. After medical tests and the surgery, Japiny had a motorbike to show for it and a lifetime of possible ailments.
The Dark Network Behind the Trade
Recruiters such as Jadhot recruit poor, poorly educated youths, usually from destitute families. They offer large amounts of money, sometimes up to $5,077, but more often pay much lower amounts, around $2,000. The recruiters have close ties with clinics and private hospitals in Eldoret, which act as important hubs for delivering kidneys to recipients, usually in nations such as India.
Consequences and Risks
Donors often experience serious health complications such as high blood pressure, compromised kidney function, and chronic pain. In spite of these hazards, many are tempted by the promise of fast money without realizing the long-term effects on their health.
Loopholes in the Law
Kenya's Health Act of 2017 criminalizes organ trafficking, but its application is questionable owing to loopholes in the law. The law does not categorically deal with cases where people voluntarily sell their kidneys for money. Consequently, this illegal trade still flourishes, taking advantage of vulnerable people.
India's Link to the Trade
India is one of the major recipients of kidneys obtained from this illegal trade. Although the Transplantation of Human Organs Act of 1994 legally prohibits selling organs, kidneys are in demand. Clinics and brokers try to bypass the law by using affidavits to assure that donors have not been paid.
The Need for Action
In order to counteract this trade, officials have to review loopholes in legislation and enact proper regulations. Close monitoring of medical centers and practitioners is essential in order to check for compliance with ethical standards for organ removal, transfer, and transplantation. In the absence of these steps, illegal kidney trade will keep on victimizing poor people and fueling a black market that endangers lives ¹ ².