KMPDC on the spot for regulatory failure after man dies of botched tooth extraction

The death of Amos Isoka, following a botched tooth extraction in Kawangware, raises a difficult question: who failed him?

Isoka didn’t just die from a dental procedure gone wrong, he died because a system neglected its duty.

Now, the Kenya Dental Association (KDA) is pointing the finger at the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), the very body tasked with monitoring and acting against unlicensed practitioners. Yet in this case, it did nothing.

This as no government health or security agency has commented on Isoka’s death, nor confirmed whether the suspect has been arrested.

This was not just a medical mistake, it exposed weaknesses in a system meant to protect patients.

KMPDC is the national body responsible for licensing and inspecting health facilities. Every year, it reminds registered practitioners to renew their licenses, yet enforcement remains inconsistent.

The fees are clear: Ksh.15,000 for Level 1–3 facilities, Ksh.10,000 for general doctors, and Ksh.15,000 for specialists.

But what happens when a facility never had a license to begin with? KMPDC is meant to be more than a licensing body—it is a watchdog. And when watchdogs sleep, people die.

KDA President Dr. Kahura Mundia said: “In Kenya, we have about 2,000 dentists for 55 million Kenyans. But, unfortunately, services access is very limited. Most of the public hospitals, in most county governments, do not have enough dentists.”

Despite its mandate, KMPDC failed to detect or shut down Life Clinic, an unlicensed facility operating in Kawangware for three years, until Amos Isoka’s tragic death brought it to light.

“In Nairobi we have over 3,000 health facilities, but due to resource constraints, we only have three inspectors. So we’re working in collaboration with them, and I’m sure they can also give details on whether they have managed to get to know where the person (quack dentist) is and apprehend him,” KMPDC CEO Dr. David Kariuki.

Dr. Mundia however stated: "In the last year we've had about 26 complaints of persons who reach out to the KDA reporting complaints that we forward to the KMPDC, because it is the body that is supposed to go and investigate. But so far we’re yet to get any reports from the KMPDC regarding dental malpractice issues.”

KDA has condemned the incident, calling for urgent reforms. In a public statement, they demanded stricter regulation, frequent inspections, and public awareness to prevent such tragedies.

On New Year’s Day 2026, Amos Isoka walked into Life Clinic with a toothache. The man who treated him was not a licensed dentist.

Within 24 hours, Isoka developed severe swelling in his neck and chest. He was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where he underwent two emergency surgeries, but he lost the battle before the third surgery.

The man responsible for his death may still be walking free, security agencies have remained mum on whether the unlicensed practitioner has even been arrested.

As family prepares to lay him to rest, it will not be lost on Kenyans that Amos Isoka’s death was not an accident. It was the result of a system that failed to protect him.