NAIROBI, KENYA – The murder trial of Kennedy Kalombotole, the man accused of killing two patients at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), has been halted following the submission of conflicting psychiatric reports on his fitness to stand trial. During a court session on Thursday, November 13, 2025, the High Court was presented with medical opinions that starkly disagreed on the suspect's mental state, forcing a postponement to determine the legal way forward.

The case, which has gripped the nation due to the shocking nature of the crimes within Kenya's largest referral hospital, now hinges on resolving these medical contradictions. One report, prepared by consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr. Frederick Owiti and submitted by the defense, concluded that Mr. Kalombotole is mentally unfit to plead. Justice Diana Kavedza, presiding over the case at the Kibera Law Courts, read excerpts from Dr. Owiti's findings, which state that the suspect suffers from neurological complications and "cognitive cloudiness," rendering him unable to fully comprehend the charges or instruct a lawyer. The report also noted Mr. Kalombotole's history of hospitalization in the KNH Intensive Care Unit in 2022 for neurological issues and Type 1 diabetes.

This assessment directly contradicts an earlier evaluation conducted at Mbagathi Hospital in September 2025, which had found the 30-year-old suspect mentally sound and ready to face trial. The defense team had contested the initial report, arguing it was superficial and lacked a detailed explanation of the methodology used to reach its conclusion.

A Case Mired in Delays

Mr. Kalombotole is the prime suspect in the deaths of two patients at KNH. The first victim, Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni, was killed in Ward 7C in February 2025. The second victim, Edward Maingi Ndegwa, was found dead in Ward 7B on July 17, 2025. Mr. Kalombotole, who had been a long-term patient at the hospital since December 2024, was arrested in July following Mr. Ndegwa's death after homicide detectives reportedly found a trail of bloody slipper prints leading from the victim's bed to the suspect's side room.

Since his arrest, the legal proceedings have been repeatedly delayed due to the ongoing questions surrounding his mental and physical health. Described as a street dweller with no known relatives, Mr. Kalombotole's background has been difficult for authorities to piece together.

The Path Forward: More Assessments Ordered

In court on Thursday, State Prosecutor Gikui Gichuhi acknowledged the receipt of the new reports. A second report from a Ministry of Health clinical officer confirmed that Mr. Kalombotole is receiving regular treatment for diabetes but did not offer a conclusive opinion on his mental fitness for trial.

Faced with these conflicting accounts, Justice Kavedza has ordered a third mental assessment to be conducted by Kenyatta National Hospital. The judge stated that the court is awaiting this report to guide the next steps. She further directed that if the KNH report contradicts Dr. Owiti's findings, the matter will be escalated to Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital. There, a panel of four psychiatrists would be convened to conduct a comprehensive evaluation and provide a definitive fourth report.

"It is a process, so you need to be patient," Justice Kavedza told the prosecution and defense teams. The case is scheduled for mention on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, by which time the KNH report is expected to have been filed. Mr. Kalombotole will remain in custody at the Nairobi Remand and Allocation Centre.

The prolonged legal process underscores the critical role of psychiatric evaluations in the criminal justice system and the challenges courts face in ensuring that an accused person is competent to participate in their own defense, a cornerstone of a fair trial. The resolution of Mr. Kalombotole's mental state will be a decisive factor in whether, and when, the families of the victims will see the case proceed to a full trial.