Kennedy Kalombotole: DPP on the spot for failing to act on DCI report before second KNH murder

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is on the spot for failing to act on recommendations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to charge Kennedy Kalombotole as the prime suspect in the murder of Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), which occurred on the night of February 6, 2025.

It has now emerged that the DCI had already concluded, through a detailed investigation, that Kalombotole was responsible for the murder, and that a report was submitted to the ODPP on June 30, 2025.

However, weeks went by without any arrest or prosecution—until another murder was reported at the same hospital just 17 days after the report was released, raising serious concerns over prosecutorial inaction and a potentially preventable second death.

The chilling investigation report dated June 30, 2025, details how the 40-year-old Kinyua was murdered in his hospital bed on the night of February 6.

The report reconstructs the events of that night through testimony from the nurse on duty, Sharon Chepchieng, as well as statements from the victim’s family, hospital security, doctors, and investigators.

At the heart of the report is one conclusion that Gilbert’s roommate, Kennedy Kalombotole, should be charged with murder based on the weight of evidence placing him at the centre of the brutal killing.

“Going by the available evidence gathered during the investigations, the deceased bed mate, one Kennedy Kalombotole, has caused the death of the deceased and should be charged with the offence of murder,” read a section of the report.

Although none of the 12 witness statements directly placed the suspect at the moment of the murder, a key testimony came from nurse Chepchieng, who was on duty that night.

She reported administering medication to both the deceased, Gilbert Kinyua, and his roommate, Kennedy Kalombotole, at 9p.m. on February 6—the last time she saw Gilbert alive.

When she returned to the room at 5:50 a.m. the following morning, she noticed blood dripping from Gilbert’s bed and discovered a deep cut wound on his neck. Gilbert was pronounced dead moments later.

"At around 9:00 p.m. on February 6, 2025, I administered medication to all my patients, including Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni, and returned to the nursing station,” the nurse stated.

"At approximately 5:50 a.m. the next morning, while administering medication to Kennedy Kalombotole, I noticed blood on Gilbert’s blanket."

What followed was the chilling reality of murder at the country’s top referral hospital and investigations by the DCI, which reached the critical conclusion that, during scene documentation conducted at the scene of the crime, investigators observed a trail of blood drops on the floor extending from the deceased's bed toward the adjacent bed occupied by Kennedy Kalombotole.

A collection of swabs and samples from a pair of black sandals found in Kalombotole’s possession revealed they were slightly stained with human blood. A plastic knife recovered at the scene was positively identified as the murder weapon used in the killing of Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni.

“There were blood drops on the floor from the deceased's bed towards the bed of Kennedy Kalombotole, who was the deceased's roommate,” read the DCI report.

“Samples and swabs taken from black sandals worn by Kennedy Kalombotole were slightly stained with human blood. The knife recovered during scene documentation was the murder weapon used in the killing.”

Despite the DCI submitting its recommendations to the ODPP on June 30, no action was taken against the suspect.

Seventeen days later, another murder was reported. The deceased, Edward Maingi Ndegwa, was killed in the same fashion as Gilbert Kinyua—his throat slit in a manner that mirrored the earlier killing.

The striking similarities raised chilling questions about a possible pattern and whether the second death could have been prevented.

The ODPP is now under public scrutiny for not acting on the report, which might have averted the second murder at KNH.

Meanwhile, Kennedy Kalombotole has since been arraigned in court but declined to speak during his first appearance, despite police insisting he is mentally fit and verbally capable.

The High Court has now ordered a mental assessment at Mbagathi Hospital. Until that is complete, Kalombotole will be held at Nairobi Remand Prison.

Justice Kavedza further directed that he receive special diabetic care, including supervised insulin administration, and explicitly prohibited him from handling needles.