Health facilities that provide poor-quality services or fail to meet required standards could soon face fines of up to Sh50 million or jail terms of up to 10 years under a new bill currently before Parliament.

The proposed Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill aims to overhaul how healthcare services are regulated in Kenya by setting clear, enforceable standards for all facilities — public, private, and faith-based — while protecting patient rights and ensuring accountability.

The draft law comes in response to growing public concern over widespread cases of negligence, unsafe practices, and varying levels of service in health facilities, with many of these issues blamed on gaps in regulation.

If passed, all facilities under both national and county governments will be required to meet detailed safety and quality measures, including proper sanitation, lighting, ventilation, food and water safety, and adequate nutrition for patients.

Facilities must also only provide services they are licensed and qualified to offer.

Those who flout these rules risk hefty penalties — a fine of up to Sh50 million, a jail term of up to 10 years, or both.

The bill also seeks to create the Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Authority, which will be responsible for registering, licensing, and accrediting facilities, monitoring service delivery, and enforcing compliance with the new standards.

“Never again will we have substandard health facilities or rogue healthcare providers,” said PS Muthoni. “Whether private, public, or faith-based, the quality of healthcare will be uniform.”

The bill is now in the public participation stage and will return to the National Assembly for debate and a second reading before any final decision is made.