KMPDC shuts down over 150 Nairobi health facilities over licensing and compliance issues
By Cy Muganda, August 29, 2025The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has ordered the closure of more than 150 health facilities in Nairobi after a fresh round of inspections found widespread licensing and compliance breaches.
In a statement posted on its X account on Thursday, August 28, 2025, KMPDC Chief Executive Officer and Registrar David Kariuki disclosed that the affected facilities were found to be operating below the standards required under the Inspections and Licensing Rules, 2022.
“The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) in collaboration with other health regulatory bodies and county government has intensified its nationwide inspection of health facilities in a move to enforce the Inspections and Licensing Rules, 2022,” the statement read.
According to Kariuki, this latest inspection, which covered 288 health facilities in Nairobi, led to the closure of 158 facilities and the downgrading of 25, while 105 facilities maintained their current level of accreditation.
“The most recent inspection covering 288 health facilities in Nairobi resulted in the closure of 158 health facilities and the downgrading of 25, while 105 were maintained at their current level,” the Council added.
Substandard conditions
Aside from unlicensed operations, the regulatory body stated that the inspection revealed serious infrastructure gaps that posed risks to patient safety and quality of care.
“Most of the facilities that were shut down or downgraded were unregistered or unlicensed, had employed practitioners that were unregistered or unlicensed or were operating below the required standards,” KMPDC noted.
“Others lacked critical infrastructure such as pharmacies, maternity wings and laboratories. Others faced sanitation issues, inadequate waste disposal, posing a direct threat to patient health,” the statement detailed.
Patient protection
The Council also announced plans to gazette the names of all closed facilities to guide members of the public in seeking services from compliant providers.
“To guide the public, KMPDC will gazette the names of all closed health facilities, encouraging patients to seek care from compliant institutions,” the statement explained.
It further confirmed that details of the shutdowns had been shared with relevant authorities, including county governments, the National Government Administration Office, the Social Health Authority, the Digital Health Authority, and other regulatory agencies, to ensure sustained enforcement.
“This information on closed health facilities has been shared with relevant authorities to ensure continued compliance,” the statement added.
Kariuki further noted that the regulations empower the Council to suspend or revoke licenses of non-compliant facilities and practitioners as part of efforts to promote accountability, transparency and patient safety.
“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,” Kariuki stated.
