Kenya’s dental professionals are sounding the alarm over what they describe as a growing risk to patient safety and professional standards.  

The Kenya Dental Association (KDA) has formally petitioned Parliament, warning that graduates from an unaccredited Bachelor of Science in Oral Health programme are being presented to the public as qualified dentists. The association argues that this misrepresentation could put patients at risk and undermine trust in Kenya’s healthcare system.  

In a memorandum submitted on February 26 to Parliament’s Departmental Committees on Health and Education, KDA said regulators appear unaware of the programme’s accreditation status. According to KDA President Dr. Kahura Mundia, there are credible concerns that graduates of the programme are being marketed as dentists despite not having completed the accredited training required by law.  

Under Kenyan regulations, only graduates of recognised Bachelor of Dental Surgery programmes who are registered by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council are legally allowed to practise dentistry. While other oral health professionals, such as dental therapists, hygienists, and technologists, play important roles in oral healthcare, their qualifications and scope of practice differ from those of dentists.  

KDA argues that failing to clearly communicate these differences risks confusing the public and allowing individuals to practise beyond their training.  

The association also warns that students enrolled in the programme may face serious consequences. Without recognised accreditation, graduates could find themselves unable to obtain professional licences, leaving them with limited career options despite investing years of study and significant financial resources.  

To address the issue, KDA has asked Parliament to investigate the programme’s accreditation status and to require formal responses from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and the Commission for University Education. It is also calling for clear public advisories to help students, parents and the wider public understand which qualifications lead to recognised dental practice.  

For KDA, the concern goes beyond a single programme. At stake, the association says, is the credibility of Kenya’s healthcare training system and the assurance that patients receive care from properly trained and licensed professionals.