Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced the immediate establishment of a specialized anti-fraud police unit to eliminate unlicensed medical practitioners and illegal clinics across the country.

Speaking during a press briefing on Jan 18, 2026 Duale revealed that the unit, a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), will target “quacks” who have infiltrated the sector.

The move follows the death of Amos Isoka, a 30-year-old Kawangware resident who succumbed to a life-threatening infection, Ludwig’s angina, after a botched tooth extraction at an unlicensed facility.

“If you are a quack healthcare practitioner who is not licensed and has not gone to school, you better look for somewhere else to do your business,” Duale warned.

He also directed Kenyatta National Hospital to waive all medical bills for the Isoka family.

The CS emphasized that the new unit would also safeguard the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Since the rollout of the “Taifa Care” program, the Ministry has already flagged and rejected over KSh 10.6 billion in fraudulent claims.

Duale noted that the anti-fraud unit would work to end “phantom billing” and other scams that siphon public funds.

To further tighten oversight, the government is introducing a “Scope of Practice” framework.

This regulation will legally restrict medical workers to only performing procedures they were specifically trained for in college, removing “grey areas” that often lead to substandard care.

Acknowledging that the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) currently lacks enough personnel—with only three inspectors overseeing 3,000 facilities in Nairobi—Duale promised a significant budget increase to hire more enforcement officers.

He urged Kenyans to verify practitioners by sending an SMS with the provider’s name to 20547, a measure designed to put safety directly in the hands of the public.