Family seeks justice after unqualified dentist leaves patient critically ill in Kawangware

A family is seeking justice for their loved one, alleging negligence by a private clinic in the Kawangware area of Nairobi.

Amos Isoka was forced to be admitted to another hospital after a tooth extraction procedure left him in excruciating pain.

The health worker who removed Amos’s tooth has admitted he had no qualifications to perform the procedure.

Amos had hoped to find relief for a painful tooth, but instead, that relief has turned into a life-threatening infection that has left him unable to speak or eat.

“Naskia uchungu imenibana huku, siwezi kupumua, nateseka sana ndio hewa itoke. Siwezi meza kitu, siwezi kula kitu kutoka tarehe moja hadi leo,” Amos told Citizen TV.

Amos’s wife Vivian Nanjala added, “Kufika saa kumi Amos alikuwa worse, analala kwa floor uchungu imezidi, ulimi umekuwa mzito hawezi ongea. Anakuonyesha tu kwa signs anakwambia ninaumia, na uki-insist sana anakupush anakwambia ninaumia.”

Citizen TV followed up to locate the clinic where the procedure was done. There, we met the man who claimed to be the dentist who treated Amos — and asked whether he was qualified to perform dental work.

“Nilimtoa meno kwa sababu najua sina uwezo wa kununua hio machine, sina license ya dental. Nilikuwa tu namsaidia isipokuwa imehappen. Ile kitu nilifanya mistake ni kwamba siko registered na dentist, Mimi sio daktari wa meno, sina dental chair yenye inafanya scan. Mimi naweza sema nilifanya mistake na kutom-refer,” Laurence King’atwa, the claimed dentist admitted.

Amos is now being treated at Wama Hospital, where medical staff suspect the use of unsterilized tools may have caused his condition.

“Sometimes the tools used may be contaminated. Sometimes we don’t recommend removing a tooth that is swollen — it can bring infections. He has used a lot of antibiotics so far but it’s not going and not showing good signs, so we are anticipating it to be sepsis; in simple terms, an infection,” Wama Hospital nurse, Enock Ondieki stated.

Vivian Nanjala added, “Tumekuwa tukisaidiana na daktari, anamdunga shindano tunarudi nyumbani. Kwa masaa machache tukikuja asubuhi saa nane tutakuwa hapa, ikifika saa sita usiku tena tutakuwa hapa.”

As Amos fights for his life, his family is left with mounting medical bills and unanswered questions. Meanwhile, the man who may have caused this continues to operate freely.

“Kwenda huko ananiambia niende scanning Mbagathi. Namwuliza, ‘wewe ndio umenitibu, niandikie transfer niende Mbagathi,’ akaniambia hio si shughulI yangu,” Amos said.

Vivian Nanjala added, “Kutoka tarehe moja hajakula. Tuko tu na Amos, huwa nakuja hapa Wema akilemewa anawekewa drip tunamrudisha kwa nyumba juu pesa ni kutafuta.”

For Amos Isoka, justice and recovery remain uncertain. As his condition worsens, the man at the center of this alleged malpractice continues to treat patients — without a license, without oversight, and without remorse.