Kenya Dental Association Petitions Parliament To Suspend Oral Health Degree
Health Updated: 04 March 2026 20:53 EAT
The Kenya Dental Association has petitioned the Parliament of Kenya seeking the immediate suspension of a Bachelor of Science in Oral Health programme, citing lack of accreditation and serious regulatory concerns.
In a petition dated March 4, 2026, the association called for a comprehensive investigation into the programme’s approval process, arguing that it was rolled out without proper consultation with key statutory and professional stakeholders in the dental sector.
The dentists’ lobby maintains that the course appears to create a professional cadre that is not recognised under existing law. It points to the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act, which does not provide for a designation known as “Oral Health Practitioner.”
According to the association, this legal gap raises uncertainty over whether graduates of the programme would qualify for registration and licensing by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council, the body mandated to regulate medical and dental practice in Kenya.
The petition further questions whether the programme received clearance from the Commission for University Education in alignment with statutory requirements and sectoral guidelines governing health sciences training.
The association warned that allowing the programme to proceed without clear regulatory backing could expose the public to risks, particularly if graduates are deployed into clinical settings without defined scopes of practice or oversight mechanisms.
It is also urging the Ministry of Education to halt ongoing admissions until the matter is resolved, arguing that students could face uncertainty over the recognition and legality of their qualifications.
The parliamentary committee responsible for education and health matters is expected to review the petition and may summon relevant agencies and institutions for clarification, in a move that could shape future oversight of specialised health training programmes in Kenya.
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FELIX MAKONA
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