The government through the Ministry of Health has directed the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council to enforce immediate closure of unregistered aesthetic clinics.
The directive comes following the completion of the assessment of aesthetic clinics and beauty spas offering plastic surgery and invasive cosmetic procedures in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Eldoret.
Principal Secretary (PS) of the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni Muriuki in a statement on Friday, February 7, 2025, urged members of the public to seek cosmetic and plastic surgery services only from licensed and qualified practitioners to safeguard their health and well-being.
“The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) is directed to enforce the immediate closure of unregistered aesthetic clinics operating illegally. All facilities with inadequate Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures must comply with recommended standards within 30 days.
“Facilities lacking emergency medical provisions must establish and equip emergency trays within 60 days Aesthetic centres/clinics without Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) must develop and implement them within 60 days to ensure safe and standardized practices,” PS Muthoni’s statement reads in part.
Apart from the closure of unlicensed cosmetic spas, she further prohibited beauty and medical spas from offering or advertising invasive medical procedures unless properly registered and licensed adding that the government will ensure all cosmetic clinics enhance public protection, safety and compliance.
” All beauty and medical spas are prohibited from offering or advertising invasive medical procedures unless properly inspected, registered and licensed as per the norms and standards. The government is developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for Invasive cosmetic procedures in beauty and medical spas to enhance public protection, safety and compliance,” she stated.
Aesthetic clinics’ assessment finds
The PS said that the assessment was initiated following a directive by the Ministry to investigate compliance with licensing and safety standards after the tragic death of a patient at Omnicare Medical Limited.
In the statement, the PS disclosed that out of the 26 aesthetic clinics that were assessed found operating illegally without registration.
“A total of 26 aesthetic clinics were assessed. 20 (77%) were found to be compliant with licensing and operational standards. Three (3) facilities had applied for registration and were awaiting approval, while another three (3) were operating illegally without registration.
“102 beauty spas were inspected, with 7 found to be offering Invasive procedures such as micro-blading and micro-needling without proper registration or qualified personnel,” PS Muthoni’s statement reads in part.
She further stated that during the assessment some facilities lacked emergency medical supplies while others lacked adequate infection prevention and control measures.
In addition, Muthoni pointed out that Omnicare Medical Limited was not assessed due to pending legal proceedings.
“40% of assessed facilities lacked essential emergency medical supplies, while 25% exhibited inadequate infection prevention and control measures.
“Omnicare Medical Limited was not assessed as it remains closed pending legal proceedings,” the PS said.
UPDATE ON ASSESSMENT OF AESTHETIC CLINICS AND BEAUTY SPAS IN NAIROBI, MOMBASA, NAKURU, AND ELDORET pic.twitter.com/DKy9IYwExp
— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) February 7, 2025
