Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), alongside officers from the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), have arrested two individuals for running an unlicensed health facility in Kawangware, Nairobi County.
The officers apprehended the two suspects during an intelligence-led operation which was being conducted in the Congo area of Dagoretti as part of the ongoing crackdown targeting illegal medical institutions across the country.
According to the investigators, the operation was aimed at protecting members of the public from unqualified and unregulated health practitioners.
The suspects were identified as Olima Bramwel Douglas, the owner of Dowamed Medicare Centre, and Fransisca Otieno Omondi, who was allegedly working at the facility. Authorities said that the facility was operating without a valid license issued by the KMPDC, contrary to the law.
In a statement, the DCI said the suspects were found engaging in what was described as ‘dubious dealings” in disregard of the established regulatory frameworks that are put in place to safeguard public health.
The agency also noted that preliminary investigations confirmed the facility was not registered and had failed to meet the minimum standards required to operate a health facility in the country.
The duo is currently placed in police custody and are being processed ahead of their arraignment in court. They are expected to face a multiple of charges, including, operating an unlicensed health institution and practicing in an unlicensed facility, offences punishable under Section 15(1) and Section 22(5) of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act, Cap 253, Laws of Kenya.
Expressing its disappointment, the KMPDC reiterated that all medical facilities and practitioners are to be duly licensed before offering services to the public. “Unlicensed facilities pose serious risks, including misdiagnosis, improper treatment, and loss of life”, the council warned.
The DCI’s office however, emphasized on its commitment to dismantle illegal health operations across the country, noting that the ongoing crackdown will be sustained in collaboration with regulatory bodies.
Members of the public have been urged to verify the licensing status of medical facilities and report any suspicious operations anonymously through the DCI’s toll-free line 0800 722 203 or WhatsApp number 0709 570 000 under the #FichuaKwaDCI campaign.
