A man who developed severe complications following a tooth extraction by an unlicensed dentist in Nairobi’s Kawangware area has died while undergoing treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
The deceased, identified as Amos Isoka, passed away after spending more than two weeks battling life-threatening complications linked to the procedure, which was carried out at Life Clinic in Kawangware. Medics at KNH said Isoka had undergone two major surgeries in an attempt to save his life.
According to doctors, the improperly extracted tooth led to a serious infection that spread rapidly from his jaw and neck towards the chest. The condition, known as Ludwig’s angina, is a rare but dangerous bacterial infection that can obstruct the airway and become fatal if not treated promptly.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has since confirmed that Life Clinic was not licensed to offer dental services and had been operating illegally. The council said the facility had never been registered and was not under its regulatory oversight.
Investigations have revealed that the clinic is alleged to have operated for more than three years without approval from either Nairobi County or the KMPDC.
The individual who performed the procedure, believed to be a quack posing as a dentist, reportedly shut down the clinic shortly after the incident and has since disappeared. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest the suspect.
The case has renewed concerns over the proliferation of unlicensed medical facilities in informal settlements and the risks posed to unsuspecting members of the public.
