Kenyatta National Hospital reveals details of mystery man held over patient’s death
According to the hospital, the suspect was first admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in November 2022, later transferred to a general ward and eventually discharged. However, because of his undocumented status and absence of placement options, he remained at the hospital for an extended period.
Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has shed light on the identity and unusual circumstances surrounding a mysterious man now at the centre of a criminal investigation into the death of a patient at the facility.
In a statement, the hospital confirmed that the suspect, who has no known identity or relatives, had been living at KNH for months after being medically discharged, due to a lack of alternative accommodation.
More To Read
- Suspect behind patient's killing at Kenyatta National Hospital ward arrested- DCI
- Another patient found dead inside Kenyatta National Hospital ward as DCI launches investigations
- KNH issues strict SHA admission guidelines to combat billing fraud
- KNH invests Sh7.6 million in solar energy to lower electricity bills
- Autopsy reveals Kariuki died from severe head injury caused by four bullet fragments
- Boniface Kariuki, hawker shot by police during Nairobi protest declared brain dead, family says
He is now the prime suspect in the killing of Gilbert Kinyua, a patient admitted to Ward 7B on July 11 and found dead on Thursday, July 17, with a deep cut to his neck.
According to the hospital, the suspect was first admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in November 2022, later transferred to a general ward and eventually discharged. However, because of his undocumented status and absence of placement options, he remained at the hospital for an extended period. Efforts by KNH to trace his identity, including fingerprinting and social media appeals, were unsuccessful.
"Being a homeless person with no known relatives or proven identity, he stayed on in the hospital even as we made several attempts to identify him through fingerprint identification and our social media pages," KNH stated.
"In June 2024, the hospital was able to secure a home where the suspect was discharged to. However, he fell ill in December 2024 and was readmitted to KNH, then discharged again in January 2025. Upon discharge, the home that had previously hosted him declined to take him back for unknown reasons. In the interim, the suspect remained at KNH as we tried to look for alternative accommodation."
The hospital clarified that although he was no longer under medical care, he could not simply be released onto the streets.
The late Gilbert Kinyua, who had been admitted to Ward 7B on July 11, was found dead on Thursday, July 17, shortly after visiting hours ended. He had been visited by a relative earlier that afternoon. Staff responding to an emergency call found him unresponsive in his bed with a deep cut to his neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
KNH activated its emergency protocol immediately after the discovery, notified the next of kin and escalated the case to law enforcement. A multi-agency team arrived at the facility and launched formal investigations.
Following Kinyua’s death, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) flagged the man as a person of interest. The hospital was advised to continue holding him in connection with an earlier matter, and he was arrested shortly after the incident.
KNH has extended its condolences to the family of the late Kinyua. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to establish the exact cause of death. The hospital says it is fully cooperating with the DCI and other agencies and will implement any recommendations arising from the investigation.
Top Stories Today
