DCI nab prime suspect behind murder of patients at KNH

Homicide detectives have arrested  the prime suspect behind the murder of Edward Maingi Ndegwa, a patient admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital’s Ward 7B, Group C (Male) on Thursday.

In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said initial reports indicated that the ward nurse had checked the patient at 11:30 am and taken his blood pressure.

At 12:30 pm, a relative visited and found him stable, leaving the ward at around 1:30 p.m. However, at approximately 2:00 pm, a cleaner going round cleaning the corridor noticed blood pooling around the patient’s neck.

“Upon visiting the scene, detectives noticed bloody slippers prints from the victim’s bedside to a nearby toilet and eventually to a side room, where the suspect, (Kennedy) Kalombotole, was admitted. In the room, investigators recovered a pair of blue slippers and a blood-stained bedsheet,” DCI said in the statement posted on its social media handles.

It added that on the ground, directly to the 7th floor where the window to the deceased’s ward is, they recovered a knife wrapped in gloves.

“The recovered items were forwarded to the National Forensic Laboratory for detailed forensic analysis to augment the case.”

DCI also said that preliminary investigations indicate that  Kalombotole was admitted to the facility on December 1, 2024, and is the prime suspect in the murder of Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni, 40, who was murdered in Ward 7C during the night of February 6th and 7th this year.

“Following the 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 undertake further inquiries to reinforce the prosecution’s case.”

Kalombotole is currently in custody, undergoing processing pending arraignment.

In a statement on Thursday, KNH acting CEO William Siligai said 54-year-old Mwangi was discovered at around 2 pm, immediately after visiting hours, in a medical ward in blood-soaked beddings. He was examined and certified dead.

Subsequently, the incident was reported to the DCI and other government security agencies, he said.

Coincidentally, Ndegwa’s bed was positioned directly opposite the ward where 39-year-old Kinyua was found in February with his throat brutally slit.

At the time, DNA tests proved negative meaning the person behind his murder remained at large.

The twin incidents have now raised questions over patient security at the country’s largest referral hospital.