Committee Backs Bill to Regulate Dental and Optical Practitioners

The Departmental Committee on Health has endorsed a legislative proposal seeking to regulate community oral health officers, dental technologists and optometrists.

Led by Chairperson Seme MP Dr James Nyikal, the Committee welcomed the Medical Practitioners and Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2026, describing it as a potential game changer in strengthening regulation within the health sector.

The Bill, sponsored by Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge, also proposes the registration of foreign practitioners residing in Kenya and seeks to curb fraudulent acquisition of professional licences, aimed at restoring integrity in the medical profession.

According to the proposal, the reforms are intended to streamline the sector and enhance public protection through tighter regulatory oversight.

It further introduces stiff penalties for medical practitioners who facilitate unqualified persons to obtain registration or operating licences.

“A person who aids another person to fraudulently procure a registration or licence shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding Sh300,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months,” the Bill states.

It also empowers regulators to strike off offenders from the medical register upon conviction.

“The Registrar shall, upon the conviction of a person, remove the name of that person from the register or cancel the licence of the practitioner,” it adds.

In another key provision, the Bill seeks to outlaw the detention of patients or bodies of deceased persons over unpaid medical bills.

“A person who detains a patient or the body of a deceased person due to unpaid medical bills commits an offence and shall be liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding Sh5 million, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both,” it proposes.

Dr Nyikal said the proposed amendments are crucial in restoring order and professionalism within the health sector.

“The proposed amendment Bill is extremely important and it will restore sanity in the key health sector,” he said.

He added that the Committee will subject the Bill to public participation, allowing stakeholders in the health sector and members of the public to submit their views before further consideration.