The government has moved to close down several unregistered beauty clinics, citing illegal operations in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Eldoret. This directive, issued yesterday by Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, will see 17 beauty spas and aesthetic clinics shut down.
“The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) is directed to enforce the immediate closure of unregistered aesthetic clinics operating illegally,” read a statement attributed to the PS.
The directive follows an assessment carried out in the four cities by the PS’s office in collaboration with various health regulatory agencies. The review focused on aesthetic clinics and beauty spas offering plastic surgery and invasive cosmetic procedures.
Of the 26 aesthetic clinics assessed, 20 (77 per cent) were found to be compliant with licensing and operational standards. Three facilities had applied for registration and were awaiting approval, while another three were operating illegally without registration.
“The assessment was initiated following a directive from the Ministry to investigate compliance with licensing and safety standards after the tragic death of a patient at Omnicare Medical Limited,” stated the PS.
Concerns Over Safety and Compliance
The PS also ordered all facilities with inadequate Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures to meet the required standards within 30 days. The assessment revealed that 40 per cent of the surveyed facilities lacked essential emergency medical supplies, while 25 per cent had inadequate infection prevention and control measures.
Additionally, a raid on 102 beauty spas uncovered seven establishments offering invasive procedures such as microblading and microneedling without proper registration or qualified personnel. “Facilities lacking emergency medical provisions must establish and equip emergency trays within 60 days,” Muthoni warned.
Omnicare Medical Limited was not inspected during the exercise, as it remains closed pending legal proceedings.
Tragic Death Sparks Crackdown
The government’s action follows the death of Lucy Wambui, who succumbed to complications from a cosmetic surgery procedure at Omnicare Medical Limited on 16 October 2024. The facility, also operating under the name ‘Body by Design,’ has since been shut down.
A medical report released in early November 2024 confirmed that Wambui had died due to stomach-related complications arising from the procedure.
Reacting to the incident, PS Muthoni reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring healthcare workers are adequately trained to uphold high-quality medical care.
She urged the public to verify medical practitioners by sending a free SMS to 20547 using the format: P#Doctor’s Name for doctors or H#Hospital Name for hospital checks.
“The Ministry of Health is deeply concerned about the tragic passing of Lucy Wambui following complications from a surgical procedure. Any evidence of malpractice or deviation from established standards will be met with appropriate legal action,” Muthoni stated.
