In the heart of Kenya’s bustling towns and remote villages, a silent crisis continues to unfold, one hidden behind the closed doors of unlicensed health facilities that continue to operate in defiance of the law.
From small rooms disguised as clinics to make shift dispensaries tucked inside residential buildings, these unauthorized facilities remain open, treating unsuspecting patients desperate for affordable healthcare. Many operate without qualified medical personnel, proper sanitation, or even the most basic medical equipment, yet every day, dozens of Kenyans walk through their doors in search of healing.
An undercover investigation by local journalists revealed that some of these centers run 24 hours a day, offering everything from childbirth services to minor surgeries, often without authorization from the Ministry of Health. In Nairobi’s informal settlements, one “clinic” was found to be operated by a former nurse whose license had been revoked years ago. Patients, unaware of the risk, lined up outside seeking malaria treatment, injections, and even family planning services.
“I went there because it was cheaper,” said 28-year-old Achieng, who suffered a severe infection after receiving an injection from one such facility. “I didn’t know it wasn’t a real clinic until I got worse and was rushed to Kenyatta Hospital.”
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Authorities have periodically conducted raids, shutting down dozens of illegal health centers across counties like Nairobi, Kisii, Mombasa, and Nakuru. Yet many quickly reopen, often under new names, and resume operations. Corruption and weak enforcement have allowed the problem to fester, with some operators allegedly bribing local officials to look the other way.
Dr. Patrick Amoth, Acting Director-General for Health, has previously warned the public against seeking services from unregistered facilities. “These places put lives at risk. Patients deserve to be treated by qualified professionals in properly equipped and licensed hospitals,” he said.
Still, the demand for low-cost healthcare continues to rise, especially among low-income families struggling under the weight of economic hardship. For many, private hospitals are unaffordable, while public hospitals are overcrowded and underfunded.
Health experts argue that the crisis reflects a deeper systemic issue, the failure to make affordable, quality healthcare accessible to all. As Kenya pushes toward achieving universal health coverage, the persistence of illegal health facilities is a stark reminder that policy promises mean little if ordinary citizens cannot find safe and affordable care.
Behind those locked doors are stories of desperation, exploitation, and survival, a shadow healthcare system thriving on people’s pain, where every injection or prescription could mean the difference between life and death.
