Kenya’s National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture (PIC-SSA) has highlighted serious operational and governance challenges at the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) and the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).

During a session on Monday, March 16, 2026, at Bunge Tower, chaired by Vice-Chairperson Caleb Amisi, lawmakers grilled officials from both agencies over issues affecting their mandates.

At KMPDC, CEO David Kariuki said the council is operating at just 55 percent of its approved staffing levels due to the government’s ongoing employment moratorium.

It requires about 40 compliance officers to inspect facilities nationwide, but has only 10. The council has partnered with other regulatory bodies and sent officers to regions with high concentrations of unlicensed facilities.

Funding has also declined sharply from Ksh500 million in previous years to Ksh185 million this financial year. Kariuki warned that prolonged underfunding could compromise the council’s ability to enforce standards, affecting healthcare quality for millions of Kenyans.

MPs expressed concern over compliance, noting that waiving licensing fees during COVID-19 weakened adherence to inspections. Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino said, “People do not value what is free. Once you start charging them, they will become serious about renewing their licences.”

The panel also probed audit issues, including unremitted PAYE taxes despite staff receiving net salaries.

NACADA faces scrutiny over land title

Lawmakers also questioned NACADA over the Ksh87 million rehabilitation facility at the Miritini Rehabilitation Centre in Mombasa, constructed on land whose mother title deed was misplaced.

Banissa MP Ahmed Hassan criticised the decision to proceed with construction without proper documentation, likening it to “buying a whip before you even buy the horse.” Vice-Chairperson Amisi said, “The cup may look clean on the outside, but inside it is still dirty,” pointing to governance gaps.

NACADA CEO Anthony Omerikwa said the authority has started the legal process to reconstruct the lost title, including filing a police abstract, statutory forms, and issuing a 60-day Gazette notice. Lawmakers directed the agency to submit a full chronology of events and supporting documents within a week.

Oversight aims to safeguard public services

The revelations highlight systemic pressures in Kenya’s public sector, from staffing shortages and budget cuts to documentation lapses that put public investments at risk.

Lawmakers emphasised accountability, insisting that agencies provide verifiable evidence to support operations and safeguard essential services in health regulation and drug abuse prevention.

These oversight measures are expected to inform future budget allocations and strengthen operational capacity in key state agencies.