Family Seeks Justice After Unlicensed Dentist Leaves Nairobi Man Unable to Eat or Speak

A family in Nairobi’s Kawangware neighbourhood is seeking justice after a dental extraction, performed by an unlicensed practitioner, left their relative unable to speak or eat.

The patient had visited a small clinic for a routine tooth extraction but soon developed severe complications, including intense pain, difficulty breathing, and an inability to consume food. After returning to the clinic for assistance, he was reportedly dismissed by the practitioner, who declined to provide help or a referral.

The patient was later admitted to Wema Hospital, where he received urgent care.

From his hospital bed, the patient described his condition: “I am in pain. I cannot breathe well, and I cannot eat anything.” His wife said that his ability to communicate had been severely affected, and that he had not been able to eat since the start of the year.

In a troubling admission, the practitioner who carried out the procedure acknowledged that he was not a licensed dentist and lacked the necessary equipment. “I wanted to help him, even though I didn’t have the machines or a dentist’s licence,” he said. “That was my mistake, and I also failed to refer him elsewhere.”

Medical staff at Wema Hospital suspect that the use of unsterilised instruments may have contributed to the patient’s deteriorating condition. Despite receiving strong antibiotics, his health showed little improvement.