KNH murder suspect Kennedy Kalombotole held for 10 days pending identity confirmation
Kennedy Kalombotole, who appeared in court on Thursday, remains a mystery to authorities. The prosecution told the court that the State has not been able to establish his true identity.
Kibera Law Courts has ordered the continued detention of Kennedy Kalombotole, the main suspect in the gruesome murders of two patients at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), for 10 more days as the State moves to confirm his identity.
Principal Magistrate Daisy Mutahi issued the directive after hearing that Kalombotole, who is currently unwell and on medication, requires continuous medical attention that cannot be provided at Kilimani Police Station.
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His lawyer, Philip Maiyo, had informed the court that the station lacks appropriate medical facilities, including cold storage required for his medication. The court was presented with two potential options for his medical custody, KNH and Mbagathi Hospital, but declined to return him to KNH, terming it inappropriate as it is the scene of the crime.
“The court has considered the health condition of the suspect and the need for secure custody,” Magistrate Mutahi ruled.
“He shall be detained at Mbagathi Hospital under tight security, with the OCS Kilimani ensuring full supervision.”
Kalombotole, who appeared in court on Thursday, remains a mystery to authorities. The prosecution told the court that the State has not established his identity.
“Mr Kalombotole has no known relatives, no fixed place of residence, and does not possess any identification documents,” the prosecution said.
“It is not safe to release him at this point.”
According to medical assessments, Kalombotole has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, epilepsy, and recurrent seizures, conditions that have reportedly worsened due to inconsistent access to prescribed medication.
The murders under investigation took place inside KNH wards this year. The first victim, Gilbert Kinyua, was killed in February 2025, while the second, Edward Maingi Ndegwa, was murdered in July.
Following the second incident, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), through its Crime Scene Investigations Unit, discovered bloodstained slippers under Kalombotole’s bed in Ward 7B, leading to his arrest.
According to KNH, Kalombotole had been a long-term patient at the hospital since November 2022, initially admitted to the Intensive Care Unit before being moved to the general ward.
“Being a homeless person with no known relatives nor proven identity, he stayed on in the hospital even as the hospital made several attempts to identify him through fingerprint identification and also through our social media pages,” KNH CEO William Sigilai said in a statement.
In June 2024, the hospital facilitated his placement at a shelter, but he was returned to KNH in December after falling ill. The home that had taken him earlier reportedly refused to receive him back.
Kalombotole will continue receiving treatment at Mbagathi Hospital while in custody as the State continues efforts to verify his identity.
The case will be mentioned after the 10-day detention period lapses.
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