KENYA — The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has made a significant announcement regarding the deregistration of Mr. David Nyawade Onyango, who had been falsely posing as a medical practitioner.
This move came in response to allegations that Nyawade had been practicing as a medical doctor without the necessary registration and qualifications, including an undergraduate medical degree. As a result, he is prohibited from practicing as a medical doctor in Kenya.
The KMPDC’s public notice explicitly states, “This is to inform the general public that the above-pictured person going by the name of ‘David Nyawade Onyango’ or ‘David Onyango Nyawade’ has been deregistered by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Council and is hereby prohibited from practicing as a medical doctor in the Republic of Kenya.”
The decision to deregister Nyawade is part of a broader crackdown on individuals posing as health professionals, aimed at safeguarding the public from unqualified practitioners.
In a parallel development, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President, Eric Theuri, revealed another imposter in response to an increasing number of reports of individuals impersonating professionals.
One such case involved Sharon Adunya Atieno, who posed as a lawyer without the required qualifications mandated by law.
Her arrest closely followed the exposure of Brian Mwenda, who had been operating as a lawyer without a valid license, even using another advocate’s credentials illicitly.
These revelations sparked a range of reactions among Kenyan citizens and prominent figures, with figures like former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and Central Organization of Trade Unions Kenya (COTU-K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli coming to the defense of the arrested suspect, Brian Mwenda.
In a separate development, KMPDC has suspended the licenses of eight medical facilities identified by Health Cabinet Secretary Nakhumicha Wafula for alleged misappropriation of funds from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
An exposé revealed that these private hospitals were involved in a complex scheme with unscrupulous NHIF staff to embezzle healthcare funds meant for citizens and the government.
These facilities were alleged to have siphoned funds from the National Health and Insurance Fund (NHIF) in collaboration with unscrupulous NHIF staff.
Speaking to the media, KMPDC Chair Prof. Stanley Khainga stated that these health facilities, primarily located in Nairobi, Kiambu, and Nyeri counties, will remain closed until relevant authorities conclude their investigations.
Prof. Khainga noted that despite the initial order from CS Nakhumicha, some of the facilities continued to operate until they finally adhered to the minister’s directive.
He emphasized the need for medical practitioners to provide services at the highest standards while adhering to ethics and the Hippocratic Oath.
KMPDC CEO Dr. David Kariuki pointed out that while the facilities’ licenses have been suspended, investigations into their practices will continue.
He assured the public that KMPDC is committed to protecting them from harm and encouraged individuals to report any complaints to ensure that medical practitioners uphold the highest standards in delivering quality healthcare services.
Dr. Kariuki further explained that the suspensions will be followed by extensive investigations to determine whether any patients are entitled to compensation from the implicated hospitals, taking into account the treatment they received and its alignment with their diagnoses.
The focus is on identifying malpractices and addressing them, including the possibility of compensation for affected patients.
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