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Detectives from the Operation Support Unit (OSU), working with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), have shut down an illegal medical clinic in Kawangware and arrested two people accused of exploiting unsuspecting patients.

The suspects, Mr Olima Bramwel Douglas, owner of Dowamed Medicare Centre, and his accomplice, Ms Francisca Otieno Omondi, were arrested for running a clinic without a valid license and practising medicine illegally.

Both are in custody and will be charged under Sections 15(1) and 22(5) of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act, which criminalises unlicensed medical practice.

Section 15(1) prohibits anyone from operating a medical facility without a licence from KMPDC. Section 22(5) bars individuals from practising medicine or dentistry unless they are duly registered with KMPDC.

Violators face fines, imprisonment, or both.

The clampdown comes amid rising alarm about fake clinics operating in Nairobi and beyond — a problem that has now turned deadly.

In a widely reported case from Kawangware earlier this month, Amos Isokha sought help for a toothache at an unregistered facility known as Life Clinic but was treated by a person posing as a dentist.

A post‑mortem examination at Kenyatta National Hospital confirmed that he died from sepsis caused by Ludwig’s angina, a severe bacterial infection that spread rapidly following the botched extraction.

The infection ultimately led to breathing complications and organ failure after two weeks of critical illness.

According to the autopsy report, the unqualified practitioner performed the extraction without proper sanitisation or management of the original swelling. That allowed bacteria to invade deeper tissues — a mistake licensed professionals are trained to avoid.

The practitioner who treated Isokha remains at large and is the subject of a manhunt by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The KMPDC later confirmed that Life Clinic was never licensed and had been operating illegally for years without oversight.

Residents said that clinics like it exploit people desperate for affordable care, often without proper equipment, trained staff, or safety standards.

“The rise of unlicensed medical facilities is a ticking time bomb,” said Dr David Kariuki, CEO of the KMPDC.

“Every patient deserves safe, certified care. Operating outside the law puts lives at risk,” he added.

The arrests of Douglas and Omondi form part of a broader enforcement push by the DCI and KMPDC to dismantle rogue clinics and protect Kenyans from quack medical practitioners.

The agencies stressed that medical practice in Kenya must be carried out only by qualified, licensed professionals.

As the suspects await prosecution, Nairobi residents are being reminded: your health is priceless — only trust certified practitioners.