DCI arrest suspect in KNH ward killing

Detectives say they are putting together the evidence as they investigate the motive behind the killings and whether or not the suspect was acting alone. 

Mr Kalombotole is suspected to have killed Mr Edward Maingi Ndegwa— a patient admitted to Ward 7B, Group C— on July 17, 2025. According to initial reports released by the DCI, the ward nurse had checked on the patient at 11.30am and taken his blood pressure.

At 12.30pm, a relative visited and found him stable, leaving the ward at around 1.30 pm. However, at approximately 2pm, a cleaner going round noticed blood around the patient’s neck and further investigation revealed a gruesome scene.

Also Read: Conflicting testimony on shocking murder of KNH patient

“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, Kalombotole, was admitted. In the room, investigators recovered a pair of blue slippers and a blood-stained bedsheet,” read a statement from the DCI on the suspect.

Also, on the ground, directly to the seventh floor where the window to the deceased's ward is, the detectives alleged 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.

There was only one other patient in the ward at the time of the incident.

The KNH management said they were working closely with law enforcement authorities and had since launched an internal investigation to determine the facts surrounding the incident.

According to the DCI, Mr Kalombotole will remain in custody as they prepare to take him to court. 

KNH speaks

The Kenyatta National Hospital has released a further update on the murder of one of their patients, absolving itself from blame, amid concerns by members of the public on how the suspect breached security and carried out the heinous act on their premises.

In a statement on Friday, Dr William Sigilai, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, said the suspect was a long-term patient of the hospital, having been admitted in November 2022 into the ICU but was subsequently discharged to the general ward.

But being a homeless person with no known relatives nor proven identity, he stayed in the hospital as the management made several attempts to identify him through fingerprints on its social media pages.

In June 2024, the Hospital secured a home where the suspect was discharged too. He however fell ill in December 2024 and was re-admitted to KNH and discharged in January 2025.

Upon discharge, the home that previously hosted him declined to take him back for unknown reasons. The hospital continued to host the patient in the interim as they looked for alternative accommodation.

Dr Sigilai also stated that they had no option but to hold the patient cum suspect after the police started treating him as a person of interest in the case of Kinyua in February 2025.

“Following the death of Gilbert Kinyua, the DCI flagged the suspect as a person of interest and they then advised the Hospital to hold him pending the conclusion of their investigations. The Hospital is awaiting the outcome of the previous incident,” said Dr Sigilai.

He added: “We emphasize that the suspect had been discharged, and the hospital did not intend or desire to host him indefinitely. However, with the absence of alternative options and pending direction from the investigative agencies, we had no choice but to continue with his stay in hospital.”

A postmortem examination will be scheduled to determine the exact cause of the patient’s death.