The High Court has acquitted four Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) staff members charged with the 2015 murder of patient Cosmas Mutunga Kenyatta, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
In a judgment delivered on December 19, 2025, Lady Justice Kavedza Diana Rachel found that the evidence presented against Priscilla Wairimu Njeru, Godfrey Murithi Gachora, Rosemary Nkonge, and Mary Muthoni Kamau did not meet the required legal threshold for a murder conviction.
The four nurses were accused of murdering Kenyatta, who was admitted to Ward 8C at KNH, on the night of November 28-29, 2015.
The prosecution presented 18 witnesses, including family members, hospital staff, security officers, and investigators, who testified that Kenyatta was alert and communicative on November 28 but was found dead with severe injuries the following morning.
A blood-stained metal bar was recovered, and blood matching Kenyatta’s DNA was found on exhibits.
However, no forensic evidence linked the accused to the weapon or injuries. The nurses testified that they were performing routine duties and alerted security upon discovering the injured patient.
They denied involvement in the death, stating no prior relationship or dispute with Kenyatta.
Justice Rachel ruled that the evidence was insufficient to sustain a murder conviction, acquitting the four staff members.
The acquittal highlights the challenges in proving culpability in cases involving alleged medical negligence or misconduct, emphasizing the need for robust investigations and evidence-based prosecutions.
