Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has directed the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) to immediately investigate medical professionals who publicly claimed to have performed miraculous healings during a recent religious crusade, warning that such assertions pose a serious threat to public health and patient safety.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Duale said while the government respects faith and spiritual practices, matters touching on health and human life must remain firmly grounded in science, ethics and evidence-based medicine.
“The Ministry of Health recognizes and respects the important role of faith and spiritual nourishment in society. However, issues of health and life must be guided strictly by science, ethics and evidence-based medical practice,” Duale said.
The Cabinet Secretary cautioned that claims of miraculous healing—especially when made by licensed medical practitioners—must be supported by verifiable scientific evidence and proper clinical documentation.
“Any claims of miraculous healing, particularly by licensed medical practitioners, must be backed by scientifically proven and verifiable medical evidence. Unsubstantiated claims amount to medical misinformation and pose a direct threat to human life and public safety,” he stated.
Duale revealed that the Ministry has instructed KMPDC to act swiftly and decisively, requiring all medical professionals who testified to such claims during the crusade to present full clinical records and scientific proof to support their assertions.
He warned that failure to comply would attract tough disciplinary action, including suspension or revocation of practising licences.
“The Ministry will not tolerate the misuse of medical authority to mislead the public, endanger patients, or undermine trust in the healthcare system,” Duale added.
The directive comes a day after KMPDC issued a strong condemnation of claims of faith-based healing for serious medical conditions, including HIV/AIDS, cancer, blindness, deafness, muteness and physical disabilities, following reports linked to a religious crusade held in Nakuru.
In a statement released on Saturday, KMPDC Chief Executive Officer Dr David Kariuki said the Council had taken note of widespread media reports and public discourse surrounding the alleged miracle healings.
“The Council unequivocally condemns such statements by medical practitioners that are based on unverified claims,” Dr Kariuki said.
The medical regulator emphasized that evidence-based medicine remains paramount, noting that all medical treatments and interventions must be grounded in scientific evidence, rigorous testing and regulatory approval.
KMPDC warned that unsupported healing claims by health professionals risk misleading vulnerable patients, discouraging them from seeking proven medical care and potentially leading to worsened health outcomes, drug resistance or even loss of life.
While acknowledging the role of faith and spirituality in society, the Council cautioned the public against abandoning prescribed treatment for serious conditions such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, hypertension and epilepsy in favour of unproven alternatives, warning that such actions contradict established public health guidelines.
KMPDC further confirmed it is working closely with the Ministry of Health and other regulatory agencies to investigate the matter, stressing that appropriate disciplinary and legal action will be taken against any practitioner found culpable.
Both the Ministry of Health and KMPDC urged Kenyans to continue seeking care from accredited health facilities and to report any suspicious or misleading medical claims to the relevant authorities as investigations continue.
