A family in Kawangware, Nairobi, is demanding justice following the death of their relative, who succumbed to complications days after undergoing what they say was a poorly handled dental procedure at a local clinic.
The deceased, identified as Amos Isoka, is reported to have visited a neighbourhood clinic for a routine tooth extraction a decision his family says tragically altered the course of his life.
According to relatives, Amos’ health began to deteriorate shortly after the procedure. In pain and growing increasingly unwell, he returned to the same clinic seeking further medical attention and a referral letter to a higher-level facility. However, the family claims his concerns were dismissed.
Before his death, Amos reportedly told his family that the practitioner advised him to undergo a scan at Mbagathi Hospital but declined to issue a referral letter, despite having performed the initial extraction.
“He said when he asked for a transfer letter, he was told it was none of his business,” a family member recounted.
With his condition worsening, Amos was rushed to Wema Hospital, where doctors suspected that his complications may have been caused by the use of unsterilised dental equipment. He was admitted and placed on strong medication, including antibiotics, but his health showed little improvement.
Doctors later referred him to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he was admitted for about a week. Despite continued treatment, Amos’ condition deteriorated further. He developed serious chest and breathing complications and eventually died.
Speaking through tears, Amos’ widow said doctors informed her that her husband needed urgent chest surgery after developing pressure-related complications overnight.
“I was told that Amos required chest surgery because he had developed pressure issues the previous night. He stopped breathing, and they tried CPR, but he passed away at around 11 p.m.,” she said.
She also described the moments after his death as deeply distressing, saying she was immediately asked to clear hospital bills while still trying to process her loss.
“I was told my husband had died and that I should clear the bill. I didn’t know what to do — should I pay or go and see my husband’s body? I am appealing to the government to help us take Amos home to Kitale,” she pleaded.
Amos’ brother said the family is not seeking financial compensation but accountability for what they believe was medical negligence.
“We are not happy with how the doctor handled this case or how we were treated. We are not asking for money. All we want is justice,” he said, adding that Amos was one of the family’s main breadwinners.
“Amos and I were the ones supporting our mother. Now he is gone.”
In a further development, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has confirmed that the clinic where the dental procedure was carried out had been operating illegally.
The family says it hopes the confirmation will lead to swift investigations and action, not only to bring closure in Amos’ case but also to prevent other families from suffering a similar tragedy.