Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has pointed fingers at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for the extended stay of Kennedy Kalombotole, the prime suspect in the gruesome double murder that has rocked the country’s premier medical facility.
In a strongly-worded statement released on Friday, KNH acting CEO William Sigilai revealed that the hospital had been compelled to keep Kalombotole within their premises following explicit instructions from the DCI after the first murder incident in February 2025.
The revelation comes as the hospital faces mounting criticism over security lapses that allowed the suspect to remain in the facility long enough to claim a second victim.
“Following the death of patient Gilbert Kinyua, the DCI flagged the suspect as a person of interest, and they then advised the Hospital to hold him pending the conclusion of their investigations. The Hospital is awaiting the outcome of the previous incident,” the statement read.
The hospital’s explanation sheds new light on the circumstances that led to Thursday’s horrific murder of Edward Maingi Ndegwa in ward 7B, where DCI officers found blood stains leading to Kalombotole’s adjacent room.
The suspect, who had been a long-term patient since November 2022, was immediately arrested and is now facing charges for both killings.
Kalombotole’s prolonged stay at KNH reads like a tragic tale of a man lost in the system.
Originally admitted to the ICU in November 2022, he was later moved to the general ward but remained in the hospital as a homeless person with no known relatives or proven identity.
The hospital made several attempts to identify him through fingerprint analysis and social media campaigns, but these efforts proved unsuccessful.
A breakthrough came in June 2024 when KNH managed to secure accommodation for Kalombotole and discharged him. However, his freedom was short-lived. He fell ill in December 2024, was readmitted to KNH, and discharged again in January 2025. The facility that had previously housed him declined to take him back for unexplained reasons, leaving the hospital with no choice but to accommodate him while searching for alternative arrangements.
The situation became more complicated after Gilbert Kinyua’s death in February 2025. With the DCI’s directive to hold Kalombotole pending investigations into the first murder, the hospital found itself in an impossible position. Despite having discharged him medically, they were forced to continue housing a person of interest in an active murder investigation.
“We emphasize that the suspect had been discharged, and the Hospital did not intend or desire to host him indefinitely. However, in the absence of alternative options and pending direction from investigative agencies, we had no choice but to continue with his stay in the Hospital,” Sigilai explained.
The hospital’s statement reveals a systemic failure that highlights the challenges faced by public health institutions when dealing with homeless patients and the intersection of healthcare and law enforcement. The fact that a murder suspect remained within reach of vulnerable patients for months raises serious questions about security protocols and inter-agency coordination.
Thursday’s murder occurred during visiting hours when Ndegwa had just been visited by a relative. The victim was discovered unresponsive in his hospital bed with what medical staff described as a deep cut to his neck. The swift arrest of Kalombotole, following a trail of blood evidence, suggests the second murder could have been prevented with proper security measures.
The double homicide at KNH has exposed critical gaps in the hospital’s security infrastructure and raised uncomfortable questions about the safety of patients in Kenya’s public health facilities. While the hospital deflects blame to the DCI for the prolonged stay, the incident underscores the need for comprehensive reforms in how such cases are handled.
As investigations continue, KNH has promised full cooperation with the DCI and other investigative bodies. The hospital has also announced plans for a postmortem examination to determine the exact cause of Ndegwa’s death, while extending condolences to the families of both victims.
The case of Kennedy Kalombotole represents a perfect storm of institutional failures – a healthcare system struggling with homeless patients, law enforcement agencies working in silos, and the absence of adequate social safety nets. As the investigation unfolds, the focus will inevitably shift to ensuring such a tragedy never repeats itself in Kenya’s hospitals.
Kenya Insights allows guest blogging, if you want to be published on Kenya’s most authoritative and accurate blog, have an expose, news TIPS, story angles, human interest stories, drop us an email on [email protected] or via Telegram
Share via: