The wheels of justice have ground to a shuddering halt in the chilling case of Kennedy Kalombotole, the man accused of stalking the corridors of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and murdering two patients. In a tense courtroom showdown, the High Court has summarily dismissed a private psychiatric report, demanding state verification before the trial can proceed.

This procedural deadlock exposes a gaping wound in Kenya’s criminal justice system: the agonizing delays in processing mentally ill suspects. Kalombotole, who allegedly bludgeoned patients to death in separate incidents in February and July 2025, has been in custody for eight months without a formal plea. The court’s refusal to accept a private defense report underscores the gravity of the crimes and the absolute necessity for an unimpeachable, state-sanctioned medical record.

"Do You Want a Zombie in Court?"

Presiding Judge Diana Kavedza cut through the legal jargon with a question that silenced the courtroom: "Do you want a zombie in court?" Her inquiry went to the heart of the matter—the mental fitness of the accused. The defense had presented a report from a qualified professor declaring Kalombotole unfit to stand trial. However, the prosecution argued, and the judge agreed, that the law explicitly requires an independent assessment from a government facility to prevent any potential conflict of interest or manipulation.

The prosecution’s dismissal of the private report is not an attack on the expert’s credentials but a strict adherence to protocol. "We need an independent psychiatric assessment from a government hospital," the prosecution submitted. The court has now ordered that Kalombotole be escorted to either KNH or Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital for a fresh evaluation. Until then, he remains in custody, receiving medication but legally in limbo.

• The Timeline of Terror: The murders occurred months apart within Kenya’s largest referral hospital, raising serious questions about security and patient safety protocols at KNH.
• The Legal Bottleneck: The eight-month delay in formally charging the suspect is attributed entirely to the lack of a government medical report, a bureaucratic failure that delays justice for the victims' families.
• The Next Steps: The case will be mentioned in one month, by which time a comprehensive state medical report must be filed.

A System Under Scrutiny

This case is about more than one man’s sanity; it is a litmus test for how the judiciary handles the criminally insane. Judge Kavedza’s directive to convey condolences to the victims’ families was a rare moment of judicial empathy in a sterile process. It served as a reminder that while the lawyers argue over medical reports, two families are grieving loved ones who went to a hospital to heal, only to meet a brutal end.

As Kalombotole returns to the cells, the spotlight turns to KNH and Mathari Hospital. The psychiatrists there now hold the key to unlocking this trial. Their assessment will determine whether Kalombotole faces a judge or is committed to a mental institution, a decision that will echo through the halls of justice and the wards of KNH for years to come.