Kenyan dentists have raised alarms over a recently introduced Bachelor of Science in Oral Health programme, urging Parliament to suspend it until its accreditation and regulatory status are fully verified.
The Kenya Dental Association (KDA) says the programme was developed without input from statutory regulators or professional bodies, sparking fears that it could mislead the public and compromise patient safety.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the association called for lawmakers to urgently examine the programme, warning that its legality and professional recognition remain unclear.
“No key statutory regulator or professional stakeholder was consulted in the conception, development, or rollout of this programme. This exclusion is not a minor procedural oversight; it is a serious regulatory lapse. Professional training in healthcare cannot be introduced outside established legal and consultative frameworks,” KDA said.
The association explained that under the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act (Cap 253), there is no official title of “Oral Health Practitioner.”
The term generally covers dental surgeons, practitioners, and support staff. Presenting it as a separate professional category could bypass established standards for training, licensure, and patient protection.
“The Ministry of Education must immediately halt any further progression of this programme pending full regulatory clarification,” KDA added.
It also urged the Commission for University Education (CUE) to consult statutory regulators and professional associations to avoid confusion, duplication, or unlawful training pathways.
KDA President Kahura Mundia, in a memorandum dated February 26, 2026, submitted to Parliament through the Departmental Committees on Health and Education, emphasized that graduates may be incorrectly portrayed as fully qualified dentists, despite not completing the accredited Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) curriculum.
“This memorandum is respectfully submitted to the Parliament of Kenya to raise urgent concerns regarding the offering of a Bachelor of Science in Oral Health programme whose accreditation and regulatory recognition status is unclear and reportedly not known to the relevant statutory and licensing authorities,” the memorandum states.
“There are credible concerns that graduates of this programme are being represented to members of the public as dentists/dental practitioners despite not having undergone accredited dentistry training as required under Kenyan law, as per the standard established on the Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree training.”
The KDA noted that dental education and practice in Kenya are regulated by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, CUE, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), and advisory bodies like KDA.
Legal practice as a dentist requires completing an accredited BDS or equivalent, undergoing clinical training, completing internships where required, and registering with KMPDC.
Deviations from these requirements could allow unqualified individuals to provide dental care, risking patient harm, confusion over professional titles, and erosion of public trust.
While recognising legitimate careers in dental therapy, technology, and assistance, KDA stressed that these roles are not equivalent to dentists.
If the Bachelor of Science in Oral Health is intended for mid-level roles, its scope must be clearly defined, accreditation publicly verifiable, and graduates explicitly prevented from being called dentists.
The association also highlighted that students and parents deserve accurate guidance on accreditation, licensure eligibility, and recognised career pathways to avoid wasted time, money, and effort.
KDA asked Parliament to initiate an immediate inquiry, seek formal clarification from ministries and CUE, confirm with KMPDC whether graduates can register as dentists, issue public advisories, and strengthen legislative oversight to prevent unapproved health programmes.
“The integrity of Kenya’s healthcare system depends on strict adherence to accredited training standards and clear professional pathways,” the memorandum concludes.
