The government has issued a stern warning to Kenyans following a concerning rise in the use of the title “Dr” by unqualified individuals.
On Wednesday, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) issued a statement highlighting the serious risks posed by people claiming to be medical professionals without the necessary qualifications.
Dr. David Kariuki, the CEO of KMPDC, emphasized that this illegal use of the title “Dr” could endanger patients’ lives and is also punishable by law.
He explained that individuals who use this title without meeting the required qualifications face severe consequences, including imprisonment of up to five years or a fine not exceeding Ksh5 million, or both.
According to Dr. Kariuki, “It is an offence under Section 22 (2) of CAP 253, Laws of Kenya, to use the title Dr (Medical/Dental) without the proper qualifications or to pretend to offer medical or dental services using this title.”
He went on to clarify that the penalty for this offence includes either a fine of up to Ksh5 million, a prison term not exceeding five years, or both.
Furthermore, Section 22 (3) of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act CAP 253 outlines the same legal repercussions for anyone using the title “Dr” without having the necessary academic credentials.
The statement also warned that people pretending to be qualified medical doctors are putting patients at significant risk.
Their diagnoses and treatment recommendations are often based on incorrect or outdated information, which could lead to misdiagnoses, delayed diagnoses, or worsen existing health issues.
To ensure the authenticity of medical professionals, KMPDC encouraged the public to verify doctors and health facilities.
Kenyans can do this by sending an SMS to 20547 with the following details: for a doctor, type “P#Full Name of Practitioner” or “P#Registration Number”; for a health facility, type “H#Full Name of Facility” or “Registration Number.”
This issue of fraudulent use of professional titles is not limited to the medical field. The Engineering Board of Kenya (EBK) recently took action against the Northwestern Christian University-Kenya after it awarded an honorary doctorate to Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi.
The EBK ordered the university to withdraw the degree, noting that he had not earned it through legitimate academic means.
The Engineering Board also reminded the public that the title “Eng.” is legally protected under the Engineers Act, 2011, and requires years of dedicated work to earn.
The Institution of Engineers Kenya (IEK) President, Engineer Shammah Kiteme, strongly criticized Sudi for disrespecting the profession by using a title he hadn’t earned.
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