The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has shut down 158 health facilities and downgraded 25 others in Nairobi after a major inspection found they were not meeting safety and licensing standards.
The crackdown, which focused on Kamukunji Sub-County, inspected 288 facilities. Out of these, 105 were allowed to continue operating, while the rest were either closed or downgraded.
KMPDC said most of the closed facilities were never registered, some were using expired licenses, while others employed unqualified staff. Inspectors also found clinics without pharmacies, maternity units or laboratories, and some operating in poor sanitary conditions. Poor waste management was also flagged as a serious health risk.
The closures were carried out under the Inspections and Licensing Rules, 2022, which require annual license renewals and empower KMPDC to suspend or revoke approvals for non-compliant facilities.
KMPDC CEO and Registrar, Dr. David G. Kariuki, said the action was necessary to protect Kenyans.
“Our primary duty is to protect patients. We will continue to enforce these regulations firmly and fairly, so that every Kenyan receives the quality healthcare they deserve,” he said.
The council has shared the list of closed facilities with the Nairobi County Government, the National Government Administration Office, the Social Health Authority, the Digital Health Authority and other regulatory bodies. The names will also be published in the Kenya Gazette to guide the public.
According to KMPDC, many of the shuttered facilities were small clinics, dental units and pharmacies operating inside residential buildings with limited equipment and unsafe conditions. Some presented themselves as hospitals but could not provide basic services such as laboratory tests or maternity care.
The 25 downgraded facilities will continue operating but at a lower service level than previously licensed. KMPDC warned that facilities retained at their current level will also face regular compliance checks before renewal of licenses.
Health experts say this is one of the biggest clampdowns by the council in recent years, coming at a time when many Nairobi residents rely on small, low-cost clinics in densely populated areas. Inspectors, however, noted that the risks of unregulated facilities outweigh the convenience and affordability they offer.
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