Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have made a breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of a patient at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
In a statement dated Friday, July 18, 2025, the DCI confirmed the arrest of the prime suspect allegedly behind the brutal killing of Edward Maingi Ndegwa, which occurred on July 17, 2025.
“Homicide detectives have arrested Kennedy Kalombotole, the prime suspect behind the gruesome Kenyatta National Hospital ward murder,” read part of the statement.
DCI Arrest Prime Suspect Behind Patient’s Murder at KNH
According to initial reports, a ward nurse checked on the patient at 11:30 a.m. and took his blood pressure. At 12:30 p.m., a relative visited and found the patient stable, leaving the ward around 1:30 p.m. However, at approximately 2:00 p.m., a cleaner making rounds noticed blood pooling around the patient’s neck, prompting the KNH management to notify the DCI.
Upon visiting the scene, detectives noted bloody slipper prints leading from the victim’s bedside to a nearby toilet and eventually to a side room, where the suspect, Kalombotole, was admitted.
Also Read: KNH Gives Chilling Details Leading to Murder of Patient
In the room, investigators recovered a pair of blue slippers and a blood-stained bedsheet. On the ground outside, directly beneath the window of the deceased’s ward on the 7th floor, they also recovered a knife wrapped in gloves. These items were forwarded to the National Forensic Laboratory for detailed forensic analysis to support the case.
According to the DCI, preliminary reports indicate that Kennedy Kalombotole was admitted to the facility on December 1, 2024. He is also being treated as the prime suspect in the murder of 40-year-old Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni, who was killed in Ward 7C during the night of February 6–7, 2025.
Past Cases of Murder at the Facility
Following that earlier incident, a case file was compiled and submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). However, after reviewing the file, the ODPP directed the investigating officer to conduct further inquiries to strengthen the prosecution’s case.
The DCI stated that Kalombotole is currently in custody and undergoing processing pending arraignment.
This is not the first time KNH has come under scrutiny over the murder of patients within its facility.
Also Read: Process of Getting Admission at KNH for Treatment
On February 7, 2025, Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni, a 40-year-old patient, was found dead in Ward 7B with his throat slit. A blood-stained kitchen knife, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered. The incident raised serious concerns about security lapses.
Initial reports suggested that CCTV cameras were not operational at the time. However, it was later clarified that footage was available but limited to common areas.
In November 2015, Cosmas Mutunga, a 42-year-old patient, was brutally murdered in Ward 8C. He was stabbed 42 times, suffering severe injuries, including a crushed skull and gouged eyes. The attack highlighted significant security gaps, as it occurred in a ward with minimal supervision and no functioning CCTV cameras at the time.
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