Man Linked To Double Gruesome Murders in KNH Wards Arrested at The Hospital

Police connect suspect to brutal killings of patients in February and July incidents at Kenya’s largest referral hospital

NAIROBI – Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested a prime suspect in connection with two gruesome murders at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), raising serious questions about patient safety at the country’s premier medical facility.

The suspect,Kennedy Kalombotole, is linked to the brutal killing of Edward Maingi Ndegwa on July 17, 2025, and the February murder of Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni, both patients who had their throats slit while admitted to the hospital’s Ward 7 complex.

The most recent victim, Ndegwa, was found dead in his bed at Ward 7B on Wednesday afternoon in what investigators describe as a calculated attack.

The 40-year-old patient, who had a physical disability, was discovered with his throat slit around 2:00 p.m., just after visiting hours had ended.

Hospital records show that Ndegwa had been stable when checked by nursing staff at 11:30 a.m. and during a family visit that ended at 1:30 p.m.

The grisly discovery was made by a cleaner who noticed a pool of blood around the patient’s neck during routine rounds.

Crime scene investigators found a trail of blood-stained slipper prints leading from Ndegwa’s bedside to a nearby toilet and eventually to a side room where the suspect was admitted.

Inside the room, police recovered blue slippers and a blood-stained bedsheet. A knife wrapped in gloves was found on the ground seven floors below the victim’s ward window.

The arrest connects the suspect to the February 6-7 murder of Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni, 40, who was killed in Ward 7C under similar circumstances.

Hospital records indicate the suspect had been admitted to KNH on December 1, 2024, and was still a patient during both incidents.

“Detectives suspect that the suspect may be a serial killer, although the motive behind the killings is yet to be established,” according to police sources familiar with the investigation.

The similarities between the cases are striking. Both victims had their throats slit while in their hospital beds, and both incidents occurred in the Ward 7 complex.

A postmortem on Muthoni revealed his wound was approximately three centimeters deep and was the cause of death.

The recent murders echo a disturbing 2015 case at KNH when Cosmas Mutunga Kenyatta, 42, was found murdered in Ward 8C.

That victim had been stabbed 42 times, with his skull crushed and eyes gouged out. The case remains unsolved.

The pattern of patient murders at East Africa’s largest referral hospital has prompted urgent questions about internal security protocols and patient protection measures.

KNH Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. William Sigilai confirmed the July 17 death in a statement, expressing shock over the incident.

“The matter has since been reported to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and other government security agencies. Our thoughts and prayers are with the patient’s family during this difficult time,” Dr. Sigilai stated.

The hospital has provided investigators with CCTV footage from Ward 7B, though management noted that privacy regulations prevent cameras from being installed inside patient rooms.

Kilimani Police Commander Patricia Yegon and DCI counterpart Hussein Mahat visited the crime scene and spent considerable time investigating the murder.

All recovered evidence has been forwarded to the National Forensic Laboratory for detailed analysis.

The case file has been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which has directed investigating officers to conduct further inquiries to strengthen the prosecution’s case.

DNA samples have been collected, and homicide detectives are working to establish the suspect’s medical condition and potential motives for the attacks.

The incidents have renewed scrutiny of KNH’s security protocols and raised concerns about the safety of vulnerable patients.

The fact that the suspect was a fellow patient during both incidents highlights potential gaps in monitoring and risk assessment procedures.

Hospital management faces pressure to explain how a patient could carry out such attacks while under medical care, particularly given the hospital’s status as a major referral facility treating thousands of patients annually.

The investigation into all three killings – 2015, February 2025, and July 2025 – remains ongoing as authorities work to prevent further incidents and ensure patient safety at the facility.