Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has confirmed that Kennedy Kalombotole, the suspect arrested in connection with the death of a patient in Ward 7B was a long-term patient at the facility.,

The hospital is grappling with a tragic incident following the gruesome death of a patient 54-year-old Edward Maingi Ndegwa in Ward 7B in the afternoon of Thursday July 17, 2025, raising questions about patient safety within Kenya’s largest referral facility.

According to a statement released by KNH, Ndegwa who had been admitted on July 11, 2025, was found unresponsive in his bed shortly after visiting hours concluded around 2:00 PM on Thursday.

Medical staff who responded noted a deep cut to his neck, and he was pronounced deceased. The hospital immediately initiated emergency protocols, notified the next of kin, and escalated the matter to law enforcement, leading to the swift arrival of a multi-agency investigative team and the subsequent arrest of a suspect.

The arrested individual Kennedy Kalombotole, is identified as a long-term patient of KNH, whose peculiar circumstances have been highlighted by the hospital.

Kalombotole, was admitted in November 2022 to the ICU and later discharged to a general ward, he remained at the hospital due to being homeless with no known relatives or proven identity, despite KNH’s numerous attempts to identify and rehome him.

In June 2024, the hospital secured accommodation for him, but he was readmitted in December 2024 and, upon discharge in January 2025, the previous home declined to take him back.

Consequently, he remained at KNH while alternative accommodation was sought.

KNH emphasized that they did not intend to host the suspect indefinitely but had no alternative given the circumstances and pending direction from investigative agencies.

Following the death of the patient, identified as Gilbert Kinyua (40) in February of 2025 in related reports, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) flagged Kalombotole as a person of interest.

Subsequently the detectives directed the hospital to let stay as investigations into the death of of Kinyua continued. Meanwhile Kenyatta National Hospital management has pledged full cooperation with the DCI and all relevant investigative bodies, committing to implement any recommendations arising from their findings.

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