The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has closed 158 health facilities in Nairobi found to be operating illegally in its latest nationwide crackdown on quack clinics and unlicensed hospitals.
The sweeping enforcement followed inspections of 288 facilities, where another 25 were downgraded and 105 allowed to continue operating at their current level.
KMPDC CEO Dr. David Kariuki said many of the closed facilities were unregistered, staffed by unqualified personnel, or running below required standards — posing a direct threat to public safety.
“The Council shall not allow quacks and unlicensed persons to endanger the lives of Kenyans,” Kariuki said in a statement Thursday.
He added that some facilities lacked essential infrastructure such as pharmacies, maternity wings, or laboratories, while others had poor sanitation and waste disposal systems that put patients at risk.
The crackdown is being carried out in collaboration with county governments and other health regulators under the Inspections and Licensing Rules, 2022.
The law empowers KMPDC to conduct routine inspections, demand annual license renewals, and suspend or revoke licenses of noncompliant facilities.
“These rules are designed not just to enforce order but also to promote accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement in healthcare delivery,” Kariuki said.
The CEO stressed that only facilities registered and licensed by KMPDC are legally permitted to operate.
Any facility found running without valid documentation will face immediate closure, while owners and practitioners risk disciplinary and legal action.
To guide the public, KMPDC said it will publish the names of closed facilities and urged Kenyans to verify the registration status of hospitals and medical practitioners before seeking care.
“Patients are encouraged to confirm that doctors, dentists, and health institutions are duly registered. This is a right and a safeguard to quality care,” Kariuki said.
The Council noted that while inspections are routine, the exercise has been scaled up following rising cases of malpractice and patient exploitation.
Information on the closed facilities has also been shared with county governments, the Social Health Authority, and other regulators to ensure compliance.
