The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has announced the closure of hundreds of health premises across the country found to be operating illegally.
In a gazette notice dated August 29, 2025, KMPDC Chief Executive Officer Dr. David Kariuki confirmed that at least 544 health institutions had been shut down for operating without proper registration or licensing.
The facilities are spread across several counties, including Nairobi, Wajir, Homa Bay, Kisii, Mandera, and Nyamira.
"It is notified for the general information of the public that the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council, in accordance with Section 15 (11) and Section 22 (5), has closed the premises were closed for being used as a health institution without being duly registered or licensed," the notice read.
The Council further revealed that 454 premises had their licenses revoked, while additional facilities were downgraded for failing to meet required standards.
This sweeping enforcement comes just days after the regulator announced the closure of 158 health facilities in Nairobi that were found to be operating illegally.
The Nairobi crackdown followed inspections of 288 facilities, where 25 were downgraded and 105 were cleared 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 on August 25, 2025.
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.
