Govt Shuts 544 Health Facilities, Cancels 454 Licenses

The government has shut down 544 revoked licenses belonging to 454 health facilities found to be operating illegally.

In a gazette notice dated August 29, 2025, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) CEO Dr. David Kariuki said the clossed facilities were running without proper registration or valid licenses.

“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 following premises for being used as health institutions without being duly registered or licensed,” Dr. Kariuki stated.

The move comes a day after KMPDC shut down 158 health facilities and downgraded 25 others in Nairobi, following a major inspection in Kamukunji Sub-County. Inspectors had visited 288 facilities, allowing only 105 to continue operating, while the rest were closed or downgraded for failing to meet safety and licensing standards.

According to KMPDC, most of the closed facilities were never registered, some were operating with expired licenses, while others employed unqualified staff. Inspectors also flagged clinics without pharmacies, laboratories or maternity units, as well as facilities with poor sanitation and unsafe waste disposal practices.

Dr. Kariuki said the action was taken to protect Kenyans from unsafe medical services.
“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 inform the public.

KMPDC noted that many of the shuttered facilities were small clinics, dental units and pharmacies located inside residential buildings with limited equipment. Some posed as hospitals but could not provide even basic services such as laboratory tests or maternity care.

Meanwhile, the 25 downgraded facilities will continue operating but at a lower service level. KMPDC warned that even facilities retained at their current level will undergo regular compliance checks before license renewal.

Health experts say this is one of the biggest clampdowns by the council in recent years. While many residents in Nairobi’s densely populated areas depend on small low-cost clinics, inspectors maintained that the dangers posed by unregulated facilities outweigh their convenience and affordability.