Ruto suspends BioVax Chair amid hospital transplants probe
In a statement issued on Friday, President Ruto said the move was prompted by ongoing inquiries into suspected unethical practices at Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre in Eldoret.
President William Ruto has suspended Dr Swarup Mishra from his position as the chairperson of the Kenya BioVax Institute pending investigations into claims of illegal kidney transplant procedures at a hospital he owns.
The suspension takes effect immediately.
In a statement issued on Friday, President Ruto said the move was prompted by ongoing inquiries into suspected unethical practices at Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre in Eldoret.
The hospital is part of the Mediheal Group, which was founded by Dr Mishra.
"The suspension shall remain in force pending the outcome of investigations into serious allegations of unethical and illegal activities involving kidney transplant procedures at Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre in Eldoret," President Ruto said.
The President also used the statement to underline his administration’s stance on accountability in the health sector.
He said the government remains committed to protecting the welfare of Kenyans and ensuring the integrity of public institutions.
The action comes just months after Dr Mishra was appointed as chairman of the BioVax Institute board of directors.
He was picked for the role in November 2024 for a three-year term.
Dr Mishra is the owner of Mediheal Group of Hospitals, which operates three branches in Eldoret, two in Nairobi, and one in Nakuru.
He served as the Member of Parliament for Kesses for one term before losing in the last General Election to Julius Rutto.
Though he ran as an independent, he was seen as leaning toward the Azimio coalition, which put him at odds with the dominant political wave in the Rift Valley—a stronghold of President Ruto.
During his time in office, Mishra became widely known in the Rift Valley for his generosity and involvement in local development initiatives.
He was affectionately nicknamed "Kiprop" by members of the Kalenjin community.
However, since his electoral loss, Dr Mishra’s financial position has faced difficulties, with reports indicating he has been working to prevent his properties from being seized due to debt.