Tupac Shakur Vs. The Notorious B.I.G.: The Greatest Rivalry In Hip-Hop History

 

Poor young Kenyans are resorting to selling their kidneys for as little as a thousand dollars and a motorcycle, a shocking report by the African Institute for Security Studies (ISS) reveals, as reported by the South African daily, Daily Maverick.

The report, cited by Daily Maverick, highlights the harrowing accounts of individuals like 30-year-old Joseph Japina, who disclosed his involvement in kidney trafficking. Japina recounted being introduced to an intermediary by the ISS, who persuaded him to join a network facilitating kidney sales. This criminal syndicate allegedly operates between Eldoret in western Kenya and Nairobi.

Japina, seduced by promises of financial gain, agreed to donate his kidney in exchange for an advance payment of $984 and an additional $984 worth of a Boxer motorcycle, a common vehicle for boda boda, or motorcycle taxi, operations across Africa.

"After Japina's agreement, he underwent tests at a private clinic in Eldoret. Following the assessments, his kidney was surgically removed at another facility," reports the Daily Maverick.

Speaking to ISS anonymously, another intermediary revealed recruiting over 100 young men from the town of Oyugis in southwestern Kenya in 2023 alone. Many of these recruits hailed from impoverished backgrounds, seeking capital to initiate their businesses.

The chilling narrative sheds light on a larger issue of organ trafficking in Kenya. Last year, the discovery of over 400 bodies in the village of Shakahola raised concerns. Autopsies revealed instances of organ removal, implicating suspects associated with the International Church of the Good News, led by self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie. Police investigations confirmed the involvement of the suspects in forced organ removal.

While Kenya's Health Act permits kidney donation for relatives or research, it fails to explicitly criminalize the illicit organ trade, leaving a legal loophole exploited by international criminal syndicates.

The World Health Organization (WHO) took a stand against organ trafficking in 1987, leading many countries to implement laws to curb this unethical practice. However, the persistence of such trade underscores the urgent need for stronger enforcement and international collaboration to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.