Revealed: Ring buying human blood, stool and urine for export

Investigations have uncovered the illegal extraction and export of blood and other human samples abroad for scientific use. Hundreds of residents in informal settlements in Nairobi have been recruited to donate blood, stool and urine samples under unclear circumstances.

This exercise, done with promises of medical screening, cash payments and future assistance now reeks of a scandal, happening in full glare of the government.

Organisers of the samples collection drive, according to the locals, neither identified themselves nor disclosed the entities they represented.

Beatrice Imbakala, 54, a mother of three from Mukuru, is among residents who have been turning out to donate blood over the years.

In an interview with The Saturday Standard at her home, Imbakala recalls her first donation at 45 years, in 2015, with her last donation having been in 2024.

She claimed to have been assured of a stipend of Sh1,000.

Being a casual labourer, she was easily trapped into the syndicate, that attracted more people.

Imbakala has had her blood collected thrice, earning a total of Sh3,200.

“This issue of our blood being collected dates back to 2015. I am not the only one who turned up, but nearly 600 people from this slum came to donate blood,” she revealed.

President of the National Community-Based Organisation Council Tom Aosa, revealed that the collection of samples  was done in Kayole, Mathare, Huruma, and Mukuru.

After donating blood, participants were reportedly given food, tea, and two slices of bread.

Mobilisers targeted individuals aged 45 and 60 years.

At times, they walked house to house to mobilise locals, and would also meet in a private clinic where the extraction was done.

“They told us the blood would help people outside the country,” says Imbakala. “But they never explained exactly why they were taking so much blood.”

A trade report aided by the World Bank illustrates how Kenya has quietly built a thriving export trade in human and animal blood, microbial cultures, and toxins, with new trade data showing that shipments reached 37 different countries in 2024 alone (See separate story).

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale says the ministry does not export any donated blood or components of blood to foreign countries.

“Kenya does not manufacture antisera used in blood grouping and laboratory diagnostic or plasma-derived blood products, nor undertakes plasma fractionation for products such as clotting factors, albumin, and immunoglobulins,” said Duale.

He added that all such blood products used within the country are imported from internationally accredited manufacturers.

Duale said that the said report, and similar reports of trade flows through Kenya, should be interpreted with caution to avoid circulating misleading information.

“The Ministry of Health will work with relevant investigative agencies to seek and apprehend persons peddling and publishing misleading health information to the Kenyan public, under the existing laws,” warned the CS.

As the trade thrives, many Kenyans lose lives over inadequate blood supply as the scarce resource is out of reach for many.

Kenya faces a persistent blood shortage that leaves thousands of patients at risk every year, with Nairobi, the country’s busiest health hub collecting only 60 percent of its annual target.

Kenya requires 500,000 pints annually, but only 300,000 to 400,000 pints are collected.

Peter Otunga, Deputy Section Head at the blood bank and a medical laboratory scientist at The Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi said what is exported is not blood but blood culture.

Blood culture, he explained, used to detect microorganisms like bacteria or fungi in blood.

Otunga said that Kenya does not permit exportation of whole blood because it is regulated as human tissue.

He emphasised that blood donation in Kenya, however, remains voluntary and unpaid.

“Blood is not bought. Someone must donate willingly. There should be no fear from the ongoing discussions because strict regulations guide blood collection, storage, transportation and processing.”

The blood culture export has however, raised concerns among Kenyans with Aosa, faulting the government.

“Where are village elders, chiefs and government officials when illegal collection of blood is done. Investigations should be done to bring culprits to book,” said Aosa.

“We condemn the government of not following regardless, they’ve not arrested anybody or protected the public,

“It is unfortunate that individuals targeted were poor and uninformed. Money is involved, each donor given Sh1,000,” said Aosa.

He said that giving stipends and money for blood drive will discourage donation because every Kenyan will demand payment.

‘‘Paying individuals will affect collection of blood which is already dragging at between 300,000 and 400,000 annually against the expected 500,000 pints.’’

The collection of samples, Aosa said is against Human Tissue Act (Cap. 252), the Public Health Act (Cap. 242), and the Kenya Tissue and Transplant Authority regulations which were all ignored.

It emerged that participants were allegedly promised future financial support and regular follow-up.

Years later, many remain uncertain about what they consented to.

Multiple interviews reveal that many participants have raised uproar, after findings of the report by World Integrated Trade Solutions , that reveals heavy exports of blood components.

Aosa said that although blood samples had been collected from several individuals in the slums, the purpose of the research remains unclear.

Questions are now emerging how the blood extraction trade has blossomed for about five years under the watch of the government.

Otunga said transportation of blood products is tightly regulated, with different components requiring different temperatures.

He further noted that blood samples may be exported for research purposes, but only under strict ethical guidelines.

He further said that if blood is to be used for research or samples sent abroad for specialised tests unavailable in Kenya, informed consent is required from the donor or patient.

In Kenya, the scientist explained that the process involving blood, from donation to transfusion, is monitored under hemovigilance systems to ensure safety and accountability.

Hemovigilance starts the moment a donor walks into a donation centre.

“Every step should be traceable, in line with national and international guidelines from World Health Organisation (WHO) ,” emphasises Otunga.

Meanwhile, we continue lose patients because of the scare blood resource.

According to KNBTS, Kenya is yet to attain the WHO target requiring at least one per cent of the population to donate blood for sustainability.

Kenya has been banking on schools, through the Ministry of Education for blood drive a move that is not sustainable more so during school holidays.

But amid calls for blood donation, Kenyans have remained reluctant, and accuse private hospitals of putting exorbitant fees for patients requiring blood.

Over the years, the blood programme has highly depended on the donor.

The programme was funded by the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), whose support ended in 2019, with World Bank’s one coming to an end late last year.