NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Dental Association (KDA) has petitioned Parliament seeking urgent intervention over a Bachelor of Science in Oral Health programme, arguing that it lacks proper legal and regulatory grounding.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, March 4, the association called for the immediate suspension of the programme, saying its accreditation status, statutory approval, and professional recognition remain unclear.
“KDA has formally petitioned the Parliament of Kenya to urgently investigate and immediately suspend a purported Bachelor of Science in Oral Health programme whose accreditation status, statutory approval, and professional recognition remain unclear and deeply questionable,” the statement read.
The association said no key statutory regulator or professional stakeholder was consulted during the conception or rollout of the programme. It termed the omission a serious regulatory lapse.
“Professional training in healthcare cannot be introduced outside established legal and consultative frameworks,” KDA stated.
The association further argued that the programme appears to create a professional designation that does not exist in law.
It cited the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act, which does not recognise or register a cadre known as an “Oral Health Practitioner.”
“The term is a broad descriptive phrase commonly used to refer to Dental Surgeons, Dental Practitioners, and their clinical support teams. It is not a distinct statutory title,” KDA said, warning that presenting it as such risks misrepresentation and could circumvent safeguards governing professional education, licensure, and patient safety.
Under Kenyan law, only graduates of accredited Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programmes registered by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council are permitted to practise the full scope of dentistry.
As part of its petition, KDA demanded that the Ministry of Education halt further progression of the programme pending regulatory clarification.
It also urged the Commission for University Education to engage statutory regulators and professional stakeholders to prevent confusion or unlawful training pathways.
KMPDU Agreement in Trans Nzoia
Separately, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) announced it had reached an agreement with the Trans Nzoia County Government, averting industrial action and securing promotions and job conversions for doctors.
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah said the deal followed a strike notice issued on February 4 and subsequent negotiations led by Governor George Natembeya.
“We are pleased to update our members and the public that we have reached a firm agreement,” Atellah said.
According to the union, 22 doctors currently in Job Group N will be promoted to Job Group P by March 17, 2026.
Doctors in Job Group P who had already been interviewed for advancement to Job Group Q will also have their promotions effected by the same date.
Pending promotions in Job Groups Q, R, and S will be finalised within 90 days from February 17, 2026.
In addition, 12 doctors currently serving on contract will transition to permanent and pensionable terms by March 31, 2026.
The developments highlight broader governance questions in Kenya’s health sector, from professional regulation and statutory compliance in training programmes to labour relations and human resource management at the county level.
