A patient has died at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) days after being admitted following a botched tooth extraction allegedly performed by an unlicensed practitioner in Kawangware.
He developed severe complications after the procedure and was later admitted to the KNH, where he died Thursday morning while receiving specialised care.
According to initial reports, the tooth extraction was carried out by an unqualified practitioner operating illegally in Kawangware.
The suspect is said to have gone into hiding following the incident and is currently being sought by authorities.
His mother described the loss as devastating.
“I have no other child; everything was Amos. Amos has left behind children,” she said.
The man’s wife, Vivian Nekesa, said doctors had recommended further medical intervention before his condition deteriorated.
“I was told Amos needed a chest operation. The doctor later informed me that his heartbeat worsened during the night and eventually stopped. They tried to assist him to breathe, but it did not work, and Amos passed away at around 3am,” she recounted.
Health professionals have condemned the incident, saying it reflects deeper systemic failures in regulation and enforcement.
Police and health authorities are investigating the matter as the family prepares to lay their loved one to rest.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) shut down the unregistered dental facility on January 11.
The regulator moved swiftly, working jointly with security agencies to inspect and enforce compliance.
“The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council informs the public that its attention was drawn to media reports concerning a dental procedure that resulted in adverse patient outcomes at an unregistered facility,” KMPDC Chief Executive Dr David Kariuki said.
According to KMPDC, inspectors visited the premises but did not find the proprietor present at the time of inspection.
The patient was subsequently traced, evacuated and referred to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) for specialised care.
“The patient in question was traced, evacuated and referred for further management at Kenyatta National Hospital,” the Council said, adding that as of January 9, 2026, the patient was receiving treatment and undergoing corrective procedures.
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