A Nairobi court has ordered Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Nairobi Women’s Hospital to submit full medical records of a murder suspect linked to a gruesome killing inside KNH.
The suspect, known only as Kalombotole, is believed to be behind the February murder of a patient in Ward 7C and is now under heavy investigation.
The Kibera Law Courts gave the hospitals until July 24 to present the suspect’s treatment history—fueling speculation that the murders may have been carried out under the guise of medical care.
KNH Murder Suspect Forces Medical Records Review as Probe Deepens
A storm is brewing at Kenyatta National Hospital after a Kibera court ordered the hospital and Nairobi Women’s Hospital to hand over complete medical records for Kalombotole, the man suspected of murdering 40-year-old Gilbert Kinyua in February.
The murder occurred within KNH’s Ward 7C between the night of February 6 and 7. Since then, detectives have worked to piece together the events that led to the killing.
On July 21, the suspect was brought before Principal Magistrate Daisy Mutahi, who directed both hospitals to present all documentation of the suspect’s admissions and treatments by July 24. The order came after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) applied for an additional 21-day detention.
According to prosecutors, Kalombotole has no fixed address and had been living in and out of KNH as a long-term patient since 2022. They feared that if released, he could easily disappear and derail investigations.
“We are requesting for 21 days as the respondent has been a patient at KNH and currently has no place of abode,” the prosecution argued. “If released, he is likely to abscond, and we will not be able to trace him.”
The court heard that Kalombotole has been identified as a person of interest in two separate murder cases, both believed to have occurred within the hospital grounds.
Murder at the Hospital Sparks Alarm Over Security and Oversight
What makes this case more disturbing is that the suspect may have taken advantage of his patient status to remain close to potential victims. The court was told that Kalombotole has had repeated encounters with the hospital since 2022, raising major questions about oversight and hospital security.
Detectives from the DCI’s Homicide Unit have been combing through CCTV footage, patient logs, and staff reports to establish a timeline of the suspect’s movement within the facility. They strongly believe that he may have used the hospital’s emergency department and general wards as cover to operate undetected.
A DCI officer at the scene confirmed that surveillance around Ward 7C is now a key focus area, as investigators try to determine whether staff noticed any strange behavior or were too overwhelmed to raise alarms.
Meanwhile, the ODPP has expressed concerns over Kalombotole’s mental health. Prosecutors requested that he be placed in a secure facility pending psychiatric evaluation, citing prior erratic behavior and the possibility that he had attacked other patients or staff before the February murder.
“We are apprehensive of his mental state, as he is believed to have been involved in several incidents at Kenyatta National Hospital,” said the prosecution.
This request underscores the growing fear that what happened to Kinyua might not have been an isolated case.
Court Weighs Justice Against Health System Failures
While granting the 21-day detention request, Magistrate Mutahi emphasized the need to first receive and review the medical records. The court wants a complete timeline of Kalombotole’s medical history, including diagnoses, psychiatric evaluations, and duration of stays at both KNH and Nairobi Women’s Hospital.
The decision signals a shift in how seriously courts are treating internal crimes committed within public institutions. It also casts a harsh spotlight on the country’s strained health system, where record-keeping, mental health services, and hospital security have long been neglected.
Gilbert Kinyua’s death might be just the beginning. If investigations confirm that the suspect used hospital access to commit murder, KNH could face serious questions about how a suspected killer was allowed to move freely in a supposedly secure environment.
The public, too, is watching. The idea that someone could be murdered in a hospital room by a fellow patient is deeply unsettling—and could erode trust in an institution many Kenyans rely on for life-saving care.
The spotlight now rests on KNH and Nairobi Women’s Hospital. Their medical records may contain the key to uncovering a deeper web of neglect, abuse, and violence hiding in plain sight. Until those records are revealed, justice for Gilbert Kinyua—and possibly others—remains suspended.
