Kennedy Kalombotole, the key suspect in the murder of a patient at Kenyatta National Hospital, has been detained for 10 days over Identity and health concerns.
A Nairobi court has ordered that Kalombotole be detained at Mbagathi Hospital for 10 more days due to unresolved identity issues and ongoing medical concerns.
Kibera Law Courts Principal Magistrate Daisy Mutahi issued the directive on Thursday, noting that Kalombotole has no verifiable identification documents, known relatives, or fixed place of residence.
"The court has considered the health condition of the suspect and the need for secure custody,” Magistrate Mutahi.
“He shall be detained at Mbagathi Hospital under tight security, with the OCS Kilimani ensuring full supervision," she added.
Medical reports presented in court indicate that Kalombotole is unwell and that his condition is said to have worsened due to irregular access to medication.
The identity of the suspect who appeared in court on July 24 remains a mystery to investigators.
The prosecution said the State has not yet established his true identity.
“Kalombotole has no known relatives, no fixed place of residence, and lacks identification documents. It is not safe to release him at this point,” the prosecution stated.
Defense counsel Philip Maiyo opposed Kalombotole’s continued detention at Kilimani Police Station, citing inadequate facilities.
He proposed that the accused be transferred to either Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital or Mbagathi Hospital.
However, the prosecution objected to relocating him to KNH, where the alleged murders occurred, citing security concerns for both patients and staff.
Prosecutor James Gachoka told the court that Kilimani Police Station lacks the medical infrastructure required to manage Kalombotole’s chronic conditions.
"The accused is diabetic and epileptic, and his medication requires cold storage, which the station cannot provide," Gachoka said.
The magistrate agreed, ruling that Kalombotole be detained at Mbagathi Hospital rather than KNH, which remains an active crime scene.
The court also acknowledged defense concerns regarding his health, noting that he had suffered seizures during earlier court appearances due to missed medication.
The prosecution revealed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations is working with immigration and other agencies to verify the suspect’s identity, amid suspicions he may be using aliases or forged documents.
Kalombotole will remain in police custody at Mbagathi under medical supervision until August 2, when the matter will be mentioned for further directions.
Kalombotole is accused of killing two KNH patients: Gilbert Kinyua, murdered in February 2025, and Edward Maingi Ndegwa, who was killed in July.
He has remained under police guard since his arrest on July 18.
In a prior court filing, the prosecution said Maingi, the most recent victim, was found dead inside a KNH ward with injuries resembling those sustained by the earlier victim, Kinyua.
Preliminary investigations placed Kalombotole in contact with Maingi shortly before his death.
Detectives said a postmortem is pending and have requested DNA samples from Kalombotole to compare with bloodstains recovered from the crime scene.
In the earlier February case, Gilbert Kinyua was found dead in Ward 7B with his throat slit. CCTV cameras in the ward were reportedly nonfunctional at the time.
Kalombotole’s defense maintains that being a patient in a public hospital does not make him a suspect and urged the court to prioritize his right to medical care.
They also requested that his medical records from KNH and Nairobi Women’s Hospital be submitted to the court for review.
