NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has shut down more than 500 health facilities across the country found to be operating illegally, in what is being described as one of the largest crackdowns on unlicensed medical institutions.
In a gazette notice dated August 29, 2025, KMPDC Chief Executive Officer Dr. David Kariuki confirmed that 544 facilities had been closed for lacking registration or licenses.
The affected premises are spread across several counties, including Nairobi, Wajir, Homa Bay, Kisii, Mandera, and Nyamira.
“The Council shall not allow quacks and unlicensed persons to endanger the lives of Kenyans,” Dr. Kariuki said, stressing that many of the institutions posed a direct risk to public health.
According to the regulator, another 454 facilities had their licenses revoked, while several others were downgraded after failing to meet required medical and infrastructural standards.
Nairobi Crackdown Sparked Wider Action
The nationwide operation comes barely a week after KMPDC closed 158 facilities in Nairobi following inspections of 288 health centers. Out of those, 25 were downgraded and 105 cleared to continue operating.
Dr. Kariuki said many of the shuttered facilities were staffed by unqualified personnel, lacked critical infrastructure such as pharmacies, maternity wings, and laboratories, or had poor sanitation and waste disposal systems.
Enforcing Healthcare Standards
The crackdown is being carried out in collaboration with county governments and other health regulators under the Inspections and Licensing Rules, 2022, which empower KMPDC to conduct routine inspections, enforce 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.
KMPDC has urged the public to seek medical services only from facilities registered and licensed by the Council, warning that unregulated clinics will continue to be shut down.
