Fake dentist probe deepens as KMPDC confirms Kawangware clinic was illegal

Meanwhile, Amos Isoka remains in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital while the rogue practitioner has yet to be apprehended, raising serious concerns over public health and safety.

It is barely a week since Isoka was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital following a botched tooth extraction performed by an unlicensed individual posing as a dentist in Kawangware, a procedure that left his life hanging by a thread.

“When he came the first time, we had to rush him to the theatre. Like I told you, this is a critical disease that we cannot give time. So they did what they call to get the pus out as soon as they could. After that, yesterday, we had to come in again to mop up the areas that seemed to have partial contamination," said Edwin Rono, a surgeon at Kenyatta National Hospital.

"By yesterday, it was clearing up in the neck because of the initial intervention, but it seems now it had spread and was accumulating in the chest. From the operation yesterday, that was cleared."

“And we took him to the theatre. The second surgery lasted the team close to midnight, and then we took him back to the critical care unit, where he is undergoing continuous monitoring and also getting the treatment,” said Dr Jane Ngwaro, an anaesthesiologist in the critical care unit.

Doctors say they almost gave up hope for Amos.

“When he came in, Amos was not looking very well. Amos was really sick. This is a very dangerous situation because the infection was now tracking down through the neck going towards the chest. We normally term this kind of infection as Ludwig’s Angina," said Rono.

"What is very critical about this disease is that you can lose life in a short time. To be honest, I have seen people lose their lives in 20 minutes. I can say one of the things that helped this gentleman was that he was rushed to the theatre the same day."

Citizen TV returned to Kawangware to verify whether the clinic had indeed been closed.

“The following morning, we visited the facility, and by the time we reached there, the owner had fled. We had already confirmed in our records that that clinic does not exist," noted David Kariuki, the chief executive officer of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council.

"The name that had been given did not exist in our records. This was generally an illegal clinic operating illegally.” 

The clinic is alleged to have operated for more than three years without the knowledge or oversight of Nairobi County or the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council.

“Waziri wa afya tembeeni. Nyinyi ndio mnafaa mtembee mkijua kama hii hospitali imepewa barua ama hapana, huyu daktari amesomea hii kazi ama hajasomea. Sisi wananchi hatuwezi kuingilia biashara ya mtu, hatujui kama amesomea hii kazi ama hajasomea,” highlighted Selina Akeyo, a Kawangware resident.

According to the council, more Kenyans could be falling victim to fake doctors due to a shortage of inspectors to enforce regulations, a rare admission from the regulator.

“In Nairobi, we have over 3,000 health facilities, but due to resource constraints, we only have three inspectors to cover all these facilities. We endeavour to visit every facility once a year, but sometimes you may find that it goes beyond that time,” noted Kariuki.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Muthang’ari has been tasked by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to track down the rogue practitioner. Shockingly, neighbours who assisted Amos are now facing threats themselves.

“Sikuwa najua caretaker wangu yule daktari alitoa Amos meno ni relative wao. Familia yote imeita caretaker ikimuambia awachane na maisha ya Amos na aache kushughulika na maisha ya Amos. Ilibidi nikupigie leo nikakuambia maisha ya caretaker sio mzuri kwa sababu ya kusaidia Amos,” said Vivian Nekesa, Amos’ wife.