Shock and fear have gripped Kenyatta National Hospital again after the brutal killing of Edward Maingi Ndegwa, who was admitted to the facility for only six days.
The incident happened months after the mysterious killing of another patient, Gilbert Kinyua, in the same ward.Police suspect Kennedy Kalombotole, a fellow patient, to be behind both killings.
His lawyer, Phillip Maiyo, now claims the man is mentally unstable and battling three serious illnesses.
“He seems not mentally okay. He does not even remember getting arrested by the police,” said Maiyo.
He revealed that Kalombotole suffers from chronic convulsions, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said Ndegwa’s body was found with blood around his neck, and blood-stained footprints led to Kalombotole’s bed.
A knife wrapped in gloves was also recovered nearby.
KNH says it kept Kalombotole only because DCI had not finished probing Kinyua’s murder and the home he came from refused to take him back after discharge.
KNH stated that the suspect had been discharged and the hospital neither intended nor desired to host him indefinitely.
However, in the absence of alternative options and with no clear direction from investigative agencies, the hospital explained that it had no choice but to continue housing him.
Ndegwa’s family now wants justice. His mother, Margaret Muthoni, questioned how a man linked to a murder was allowed to roam freely in the hospital.
Kalombotole is currently held at Kilimani Police Station.
His lawyer has warned that he must be watched closely due to his poor health and mental condition.
Investigations into both killings are ongoing as the hospital and detectives trade blame.
By Nairobi