KNH murder: 2nd psychiatric test declares Kalombotole unfit to face trial
A second mental assessment for Kennedy Kalombotole, the person of interest in the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) murders, has found him unfit to stand trial.
According to a report presented to the Kibera High Court on Thursday, November 13, 2025, the psychiatrist concluded that Kalombotole is unable to plead to the murder charges against him.
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In his findings, Dr Frederick Owiti stated that Kalombotole is not aware he is being linked to the deaths at KNH, making him mentally unfit to face trial.
“Judging by his cognitive bluntness. In view of his cognitive cloudiness, the accused is not fit to plead; thus, he cannot instruct a lawyer and clearly understand the charge,” Dr Owiti said in his report.
The report also describes Kalombotole as a Nairobi street dweller. He reportedly told the doctor that in 2022, he was hospitalised at KNH’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to a neurological disorder and Type I diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent).
Kalombotole, whose full medical history remains unclear, previously lived in the Majengo area of Nairobi. However, he told the doctor that he does not know his parents or whether he has any siblings.
“Nililelewa kwa barabara za Nairobi,” Kalombotole said, meaning “I was raised on the streets of Nairobi.”
Earlier, Lady Justice Diana Kavedza had, on October 23, 2025, deferred his plea for the second time to allow another psychiatric assessment.
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She ordered that the examination be carried out from the remand prison, instructing the Kenya Prisons Service to prepare the remand clinic for Dr Owiti to conduct the evaluation.
“The plea is deferred to enable the person of interest in this matter to undergo a second mental assessment examination at KNH,” Justice Kavedza ruled.
The judge’s directive followed objections from Kalombotole’s legal team, who had rejected the first psychiatric report, which indicated that he was fit to stand trial.
According to the defence, the earlier report lacked details of their client’s mental evaluation and failed to specify when he was presented for examination.
“My Lady, we are contesting the format of the report; we want a detailed one,” the defence lawyers told the court.
The matter is scheduled for mention on December 17, 2025.
