Tanzania: You Can Be Jailed 10 Years for Selling Your Kidney

In Kenya, selling your kidney or any other human organ is strictly prohibited under Part XI of the Health Act No. 21 of 2017. This part of the law comprehensively addresses the regulation of human organs, blood, tissues, and gametes (such as sperm or egg).

The legislation was established to protect human dignity, prevent exploitation, and ensure that organ donation is carried out ethically and safely.

Importantly, the Act also sets heavy penalties for any violations. The Health Act clearly prohibits any form of commercialisation of human organs and tissues.

It states that a person shall not sell, offer to sell, or receive any financial or other reward for the donation of a human organ, blood, blood products, tissue, or gametes.

The only exception is reimbursement for reasonable costs incurred during the donation process – such as travel and medical expenses – but not the organ itself.

Anyone who sells or attempts to sell their organ, or buys or attempts to buy one, commits an offence.

The law is designed to prevent vulnerable people from being coerced into selling their organs due to poverty or desperation, and to stop any form of trafficking in body parts.

The Health Act includes stiff criminal penalties for violations under this section:-It says anyone who contravenes the provisions on the prohibition of trading in human organs is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding Sh10 million or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or to both.

If the offender is a healthcare provider or a facility, they may also have their license revoked or priorities at the summit, which include advocating for streamlined visa policies and improved transport connectivity between African and American nations.

These steps, she noted, are essential to unlock the sector’s full potential and increase intraregional travel.

The summit is also focusing on resilience in the face of global challenges such as pandemics, natural disasters, and climate change.

“The ability to bounce back from global shocks is now a fundamental pillar of successful tourism strategies,” Miano emphasized.

Other key themes include the promotion of free economic zones to drive tourism growth and job creation, as well as empowering youth through innovation and entrepreneurship.

“Empowering our youth with the tools to revolutionize tourism is not just visionary–it’s necessary,” said Miano.

Kenya is also using the summit to bolster its bid for a seat on the UN Tourism Executive Council for the 2025-2029 term.

The nomination, formally backed by the UN Tourism Secretariat in March, would grant Kenya greater influence in shaping global tourism policy.

As discussions continue in Livingstone, Kenya’s active participation is underscoring its ambition to not just recover from recent global tourism downturns–but to lead the way forward.

“The spirit of cooperation we’re seeing here is inspiring,” said Miano.

“Together, we can transform tourism into a driver of prosperity and unity.”

That also comes with the background that Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Reface additional regulatory penalties, including being disqualified from practice.

Performing a transplant without proper consent or in unauthorised facilities is also an offence, and offenders are subject to the same level of penalties.

However, organ donation is legal and encouraged under “tightly regulated and ethical” conditions.

A living person can donate an organ (commonly a kidney) only if they provide informed and written consent.

The donor must be a close relative or have a close emotional connection to the recipient (such as spouse), and both parties must undergo medical and psychological evaluations.