Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has directed the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) to immediately investigate licensed medical practitioners who publicly claimed to perform miraculous healings during a recent religious crusade, citing risks to public health and safety.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Duale emphasized that while the Ministry of Health respects faith and spirituality, medical matters must remain grounded in science, ethics, and evidence-based practice.
“The Ministry of Health recognizes the important role of faith in the lives of Kenyans. However, matters of health and life must be guided by scientific evidence and ethical medical practice,” said Duale.
He warned that claims of miraculous healing, especially by licensed practitioners, must be backed by verifiable clinical evidence. “Unsubstantiated claims constitute medical misinformation and pose a direct threat to human life and public safety,” he added.
The CS instructed KMPDC to act swiftly and decisively. “Medical professionals who made such claims during the recent crusade must provide full clinical documentation and scientific proof. Failure to comply will attract serious disciplinary action, including suspension or revocation of licenses for professional misconduct,” Duale stated.
The directive follows a statement by KMPDC CEO Dr. David Kariuki, which condemned unverified faith-based healing claims for serious medical conditions, including HIV/AIDS, cancer, blindness, deafness, muteness, and physical disabilities.
“The Council unequivocally condemns such statements by medical practitioners that are not supported by scientific evidence. All medical treatments must be grounded in rigorous testing and regulatory approval,” said KMPDC.
The regulator further warned that unverified claims could mislead patients, discourage them from seeking proven therapies, and potentially result in worsened health outcomes, drug resistance, or death. KMPDC also cautioned the public against abandoning prescribed treatment in favor of unverified methods.
Both the Ministry of Health and KMPDC stressed that appropriate actions will be taken to safeguard public health, uphold medical ethics, and prevent the spread of medical misinformation. Kenyans were urged to continue seeking care from accredited health facilities and report suspicious medical claims to relevant authorities.
