KNH murder case: Kalombotole to be held at Mbagathi Hospital for 10 days
A Kibera court has directed Kennedy Kalombotole, a person of interest in the murder of a patient at Kenyatta National Hospital’s Ward C, to be held at the Mbagathi hospital for 10 days.
Issuing the directive, Magistrate Daisy Mutai on Thursday, July 24, 2025, stated that the order is to ensure he receives treatment as police complete their investigations.
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However, the court ordered the police to ensure he is under tight security as he receives the treatment, as well as to ensure safety for the other patients.
“I hereby direct the respondent (Kalombotole) be held at the Mbagathi hospital under tight security for 10 days to enable the investigators to complete their work as he receives treatment,” Magistrate Mutai directed.
Notably, the magistrate also ordered that his lawyer should not be restricted from seeing him wholly at Mbagathi.
Meanwhile, a medical report was produced in court showing that Kalombotole is currently receiving insulin treatment for blood sugar control and medication to manage seizures and nausea.
The report by Doctor Silvanos Wabule, a consultant at Roya Hospital, also reveals that Kalombotole was admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) on December 11, 2024, and discharged two days later.
However, due to administrative delays, he remained at the facility.
During the last proceedings, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) sought to detain him for 21 more days to enable them to complete investigations on the matter.
DCI informed the court that they required the said days for forensic analysis, DNA sampling, mental assessment, and witness interviews.
Additionally, DCI told the court that they also needed to collect fingerprint impressions, take official statements from witnesses, conduct a full autopsy, and perform a mental health evaluation to determine Kalombotole’s fitness to stand trial for murder charges.
The Investigative Officer, Benard Muange, further stated that the circumstances surrounding Edward Maingi Ndegwa, who was found dead in his hospital bed on July 17, 2025, remain suspicious and unresolved.
“The deceased was found murdered in his bed, and the manner of death has shocked both the hospital staff and the community. We are yet to obtain DNA samples from the Kolombotole for comparison with evidence collected from the scene and the deceased’s body,” Muange told the court.
The State also told the court that the detention is also meant to ensure his safety, stating that if freed on bail, there could be a likelihood of him being harmed.
They stated that the incident has left the family of the deceased and the public in general in utter shock and anger.
“This case has caused considerable public outrage; releasing the respondent (Kalombotole) at this stage could endanger his safety,” the prosecution told the court.
However, defence lawyers led by Joshua Ombengi and Zephaniah Chapa opposed his continued detention, arguing that the suspect is still unwell and had been discharged from the hospital at the time of his arrest.
They urged the court to compel the DCI to produce medical reports to confirm the suspect’s medical condition from Kenyatta National Hospital and Nairobi Women’s Hospital, where he has been receiving treatment.
Further, she directed the DCI to produce the two medical reports from Kenyatta National Hospital and Nairobi Women’s Hospital.
