NAIROBI, Kenya – A Nairobi court has ordered the production of medical records for a man linked to the recent murder of a patient inside a ward at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Principal Magistrate Daisy Mutai on Monday, July 21, directed that treatment reports from KNH and Nairobi Women’s Hospital for the suspect, Kennedy Kalombotole, be filed in court to clarify the nature of his medical condition.
The prosecution, through a notice of motion, is seeking to detain Kalombotole for 21 days at Kilimani Police Station to allow police to complete investigations into the July 17 death of a man named Edward, whose body was found inside a KNH ward with suspicious injuries.
Police told the court that Kalombotole was in contact with the deceased shortly before his death and is also a person of interest in a second murder that occurred between July 6 and 7.
Preliminary findings suggest similarities between Edward’s killing and the February murder of another patient, Gilbert Kinyua, whose throat was slit in the same ward, 7B. At the time, the ward’s CCTV cameras were reportedly non-functional.
Investigators say a postmortem on Edward is pending, along with a DNA analysis comparing Kalombotole’s samples with bloodstains recovered at the scene. A mental assessment of the suspect is also yet to be conducted.
The prosecution argued that releasing Kalombotole, who has no permanent residence, would risk witness interference and pose a public safety threat.
They also claimed that continued detention could protect him from potential retaliation, given the fear sparked by the killings at the hospital.
Kalombotole was arrested on July 18 and booked at Kilimani Police Station.
However, the defence opposed the application, saying the request was discriminatory and lacked merit.
The suspect’s lawyer told the court that Kalombotole, 29, lives with diabetes, hypertension, and another chronic illness.
“He is homeless, has no family, and has spent most of his life on the streets. But homelessness is not a crime,” the lawyer said, while questioning the hospital’s security. “How do two people get murdered in the same ward five months apart?”
The defence also argued that custody was unnecessary for conducting a postmortem or mental evaluation, and urged the court to prioritise the suspect’s access to treatment.
Magistrate Mutai ordered that Kalombotole remain in custody and directed that his medical records be produced before the next mention date on July 24, 2025.
