KMPDC Closes 158 Health Facilities in Nairobi Over Non-Compliance

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has ordered the closure of 158 health facilities in Nairobi for failing to comply with medical regulations. In addition, 25 facilities were downgraded after an extensive inspection carried out across the county.

Inspection Findings

KMPDC CEO David Kariuki revealed on Thursday that the exercise, which covered 288 facilities, was conducted in collaboration with other health regulatory agencies. Out of the inspected facilities, 105 were cleared to continue operating at their current level, while the rest faced sanctions.

According to Kariuki, many of the closed or downgraded facilities were unregistered, unlicensed, or employing unqualified staff. Others lacked critical infrastructure such as pharmacies, maternity wings, or laboratories, while some were cited for poor sanitation and unsafe waste disposal practices.

“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,” said Kariuki.

Gazettement and Public Safety

KMPDC announced that the list of closed facilities will be gazetted to protect members of the public from unsafe services. The information has also been shared with key bodies including the Ministry of Health, the National Government Administration Office, County Governments, and the newly formed Social Health Authority (SHA).

Part of Wider Crackdown

The closure in Nairobi comes just days after SHA suspended 45 health facilities nationwide from offering services under the Social Health Insurance program. Those suspensions cited fraud, falsification of medical records, and other irregularities. Counties hit hardest included Mandera with eight facilities suspended and Kisii with seven. Other affected regions included Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kakamega, Meru, Turkana, and Kirinyaga.

Why It Matters

The back-to-back actions by KMPDC and SHA highlight an aggressive push by regulators to clean up Kenya’s healthcare system, crack down on malpractice, and protect patients from unqualified providers. Nairobi residents are now urged to confirm that the facilities they visit are fully registered and compliant with KMPDC standards.

Stay tuned for updates on health regulations and compliance in Kenya on The Star.