The Kenya Dental Association (KDA) has filed a petition in parliament seeking the immediate suspension of the Bachelor of Science in Oral Health programme. The association demands a full investigation into the course, whose accreditation it says is unclear, and raises concerns over serious regulatory gaps in its approval, development and rollout. It notes that professional stakeholders were not consulted before the programme's introduction.
The Kenya Dental Association (KDA) has filed a petition in parliament seeking the immediate suspension of the Bachelor of Science in Oral Health programme. In a statement dated March 4, 2026, the association also demanded a full investigation into the course, whose accreditation it says is unclear. KDA raised concerns over what it described as serious regulatory gaps surrounding the programme’s approval, development and rollout, noting that professional stakeholders were not consulted before the course was introduced.
"The Kenya Dental Association is drawing a hard line on professional standards, and for good reason, protecting public health starts with ensuring that those treating you have the right, legally recognised qualifications," the association stated.
According to KDA, the lack of consultation regarding the programme was not a minor procedural oversight but a significant regulatory lapse. The association explained that the term 'Oral Health Practitioner' is generally used as a broad description referring to dental surgeons, dental practitioners and their clinical support teams, but it is not a distinct statutory title. "Under the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act (Cap 253), there is no legally recognised or registrable professional cadre designated as an Oral Health Practitioner," KDA noted.
As part of its petition, the association called on the Ministry of Education to immediately suspend the programme’s implementation pending a comprehensive investigation. It further urged the Commission for University Education to urgently consult professional stakeholders to avert confusion, duplication, or the establishment of unlawful professional training pathways. "Public safety is non-negotiable. Regulatory clarity is mandatory. Professional standards cannot be diluted or subjected to experimentation," KDA emphasised.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to defending the integrity of dental education in Kenya and protecting the public from potential risks arising from irregular training programmes.