The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has shut down 156 health facilities in Kamukunji Sub-County, Nairobi, after a sweeping inspection found widespread non-compliance with licensing and safety standards.
The crackdown is part of nationwide inspections covering 288 facilities in Nairobi, where 158 were closed, 25 downgraded, and 105 allowed to continue operations.
The council said many of the shuttered outlets had never been registered, while others were running with expired licenses or employing staff without proper approvals. Inspectors also reported facilities that lacked pharmacies, maternity units and laboratories, as well as those that operated in poor sanitary conditions. Crackdown by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council comes as the Ministry of Health, under CS Aden Duale, works to strengthen regulation in the sector, with 156 facilities in Kamukunji shut after inspections found licensing and safety failures.
Waste management was found to be inadequate in several sites, a problem that officials described as a direct threat to patient health.
The closures follow the Inspections and Licensing Rules, 2022, enacted under the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act (Cap 253).
The rules provide for routine checks and require annual renewal of licenses for all facilities.
They also empower KMPDC to suspend or revoke approvals for those that fall short of set requirements.
Dr David G Kariuki, the CEO and Registrar of KMPDC, said the move was necessary to protect Kenyans from unsafe treatment environments.
“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 National Government Administration Office, Nairobi County Government, the Social Health Authority, the Digital Health Authority and other regulatory agencies.
It will also publish the names in the Kenya Gazette to inform the public and guide patients on where to seek care.
KMPDC officials indicated that many of the facilities closed in Kamukunji had been operating as small clinics, dental units and pharmacies, some inside residential buildings, with limited equipment and little regard for safety.
In several cases, outlets presented themselves as hospitals but could not provide basic services such as laboratory testing or maternity support.
The inspection also downgraded 25 facilities across Nairobi after inspectors concluded they were not capable of operating at the levels for which they had been licensed.
Downgrading means a facility may continue to run but with restrictions, usually to a lower level of service than previously approved.
While 105 facilities were retained at their current levels, KMPDC warned that continued compliance will be checked regularly and licenses will only be renewed for those meeting standards.
Healthcare analysts note that the closures mark one of the largest clampdowns in recent years by the council.
They come at a time when the demand for affordable outpatient services is high in Nairobi’s densely populated areas, which has allowed unlicensed operators to proliferate. Many residents often turn to these outlets because of proximity and lower cost, but inspectors found that the risks outweighed the benefits.
The council said its wider inspection programme will extend beyond Nairobi to other counties in the coming months.
The aim is to establish a consistent standard for medical facilities across the country and limit exposure to poorly regulated providers.
Officials pointed to the rising cases of malpractice and unsafe procedures in urban centres, saying routine checks are the most effective way to protect patients.
KMPDC urged Kenyans to confirm that facilities they visit are licensed and staffed with qualified personnel.
It added that patients should demand to see valid licenses displayed at reception areas, which is a legal requirement for all health facilities.
The latest action in Kamukunji and across Nairobi is expected to send a clear signal to operators that the era of running unregistered clinics is coming to an end.
Below is a full list of the facilities ordered closed in Kamukunji.
(1) Pro Hub Dental Services (2) Sharmake 2 Dental Clinic (3) Woodstreet Clinic and Nursing Home (4) Habib Dental clinic ltd (5) Gaman healthcare services (6) Safwan medical centre Limited (7) Morning Side Medical Clinic (8) Shauri Moyo Medical Centre (9) Affinity Medicine Healthcare Limited (10) Kamos medical complex (11) Junction dental centre (12) Azram Medical Centre (13) Ismacurepoint Medical Centre (14) Dunish Pharmaceutical Limited and Dental Clinic (15) Al-Fuursan Dental Clinic (16) Saba Saba Dental Clinic (17) Al-Haraman Pharmaceutical LTD and Dental Services (18) Jibril Dental Clinic (19) Macaash Eastleigh Dental services (20) Emed Health Care Limited (21) Aroy Dental (22) Maka Dental Clinic (23) Dentalmode Clinic and pharmacy (24) Togdeer Medical Clinic (25) Iqlas Pharmacy medical and dental services (26) Belarus medical centre (27) Kanisa medical point (28) Media dental clinic (29) Equity Afia Eastleigh (30) Salaam co pharmacy dental and medical Centre ltd (31) Glory hospital (32) Citypath hospital (33) Tabib specialists Centre Ltd (34) Soyan Medical Centre (35) Faza pharmaceutical and medical centre (36) Directcare Medical Centre (37) Raneem pharmaceutical and medical clinic (38) Ultismile Medical and Dental Centre (39) Yaqeen Medical Center Limited (40) Abraaj Pharmacy and Medical Center (41) Halane Medical Clinic (42) Allsmikes Healthcare Centre Limited (43) Salaams Pharmaceuticals Dental and Medical Centre Limited (44) Urban care medical center (45) Inline dental (46) Lagta Medical Centre (47) Hayat Dental Centre (48) Dental Crown Suite (49) Rodol Healthcare (50) Horizon Dental (51) Isra medical centre (52) Hoyo Medical clinic (53) Leeks Medicare (54) Health Start medical centre limited (55) Nexuslife pharmaceutical medical and dental clinic (56) Jakaza pharmaceutical laboratory and clinic (57) The Habib hospital (58) STAREHE health care ltd (59) Mithili pharmacy and medical centre (60) Vassilla pharmaceutical and medical centre (61) Istahill medical Centre dental care and eye clinic (62) Al-Fardows Pharmacy Medical and Dental Clinic (63) Basma Medical Center (64) Abuhanifa Medical and Dental Center (65) Mabruk Medical and Dental Center (66) Noorin medical centre (67) Midlife medical centre (68) Gedwell hospital limited (69) Tolmon medical Centre (70) Arabian dental clinic (71) First line medical centre (72) Bulale Medical Clinic (73) Family Medical and Dental Centre (74) Maaz Care Limited (75) Optimum Smile Dentistry (76) Manipal Medical Centre (77) Shelter Dental (78) Ramadhan Medical Centre Ltd (79) Starford Health Care Limited (80) Mediheal hospital - Eastleigh (81) Gulf way clinic and dental clinic (82) Afia medical centre (83) Hanand medical clinic (84) Taaif medical centre (85) Memma health services Limited (86) Tahcare medical and dental centre limited (87) Pumwani shelter health services (88) Tamara medical centre (89) Savayo medical clinic and pharmacy services (90) Husmed medical clinic (91) Al shifaa medical centre (92) Bismilahi medical centre (93) The Humeirah Hospital (94) 4G Health Care and Smile Dental Services (95) IOM Treatment Centre Eastleigh (96) Salama Nursing and Maternity Home (97) Sharn dental clinic (98) Al Amin nursing home (99) Toronto Medical Centre (100) Equity Afia- Pangani Medical Centre (101) Jass Medical Clinic (102) Nzoia Nursing Home-Pangani (103) TCC Health Systems Limited- Pangani (104) Ebptisama dental clinic (105) Baam Medical and Dental Center (106) Jamii Link Pharmacy and Dental Clinic (107) Ham Dental Clinic (108) Muratina Dental Clinic (109) Serene Eastleigh Clinic Eastleigh (110) Leeks Medical and Dental Clinic (111) City Stadium Health Services (112) Reeds medical centre Kiambiu (113) Ibtisaam medical centre (114) Ganam Dental unit (115) Dalnur Pharmacy and Medical Clinic (116) Mathare Valley Medical Centre (117) Rafiki Roma Medical Clinic (118) Jubbah Star Pharmacy and Dental Clinic (119) Ahlam Medical Centre (120) Nalky Medical Centre (121) Benamed medical clinic (122) Malezi healthcare (123) The Hamlin Hospital (124) Beirut Pharmacy and Medical Centre (125) Olivium health care limited (126) Lithi kimbinu health community clinic (127) 12th street medical services ltd (128) Kilimanjaro nursing home (129) Awale 1 medical centre (130) Penda medical centre-Eastleigh (131) Amal Hospital limited (132) Biafra Medical Clinic (133) Halal Medical Clinic (134) Horseet Pharmaceutical and Medical Center (135) Second Avenue Pharmacy Medical Centre LIMITED (136) Kulimye Medical Clinic (137) Villaone Medical Clinic (138) Abraj Pharmaceutical and Medical Centre (139) Ixtiram health care (140) Zuheifa pharmaceutical and Medical Clinic (141) Ganane medical centre (142) Dimashq Dental and Pharmacy Lab (143) Ilsan Medical Centre & Dental Clinic (144) Selehan pharmacy limited (145) Pumwani Riyadh clinic (146) New fifth Street medical centre (147) Armania medical centre (148) Best Medical Clinic (149) Al-Kawthar Medical Clinic (150) Mabrook Clinic-Biafra Estate (151) Villa Pharmacy & Medical Centre (152) Hajar Pharmacy & Medical Centre (153) Hami Dental services Ltd (154) Dalsom Healthcre (155) Savannah Medical Centre (156) Primo Dental, Pharmacy and Medical Clinic Limited
Sources within the health sector indicate that certain established networks operating out of Afya House are reportedly beginning to consolidate in response to the intensified regulatory measures.
These groups, previously linked to financial irregularities and questionable claim practices, appear concerned about the suspension of multiple facilities and the disruption of channels that had historically facilitated unregulated financial flows.
Insiders suggest that these networks may be seeking ways to challenge the Ministry of Health’s enforcement actions under Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
The response of these networks will continue to be closely monitored as inspections and compliance checks proceed.