A Nairobi court has formally charged a man accused of killing a patient at Kenyatta National Hospital after months of delays linked to questions about his mental fitness to stand trial. The case can now proceed following a conclusive psychiatric assessment.
The accused, Kennedy Kalombotole, appeared before Justice Diana Kavedza at the High Court in Nairobi, where he pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The court relied on findings from a panel of psychiatrists drawn from Mathare National Teaching and Referral Hospital, who determined that Kalombotole was mentally fit to stand trial. This cleared the way for the plea to be formally entered.
According to the charge sheet, Kalombotole is accused of murdering Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni between February 6 and 7, 2025, at Ward 7B of Kenyatta National Hospital. The case had previously stalled for over a year due to conflicting psychiatric evaluations regarding the accused’s mental condition.
At one point, the court had even considered sending the accused abroad for an independent mental assessment after local doctors failed to agree on his condition. However, the decision was later revised, and a three-member panel in Kenya was tasked with making a final determination. Their conclusion that the accused was fit to plead has now allowed the case to move forward.
The prosecution indicated it plans to call about 20 witnesses, including a pathologist who conducted the post-mortem examination. However, the court advised reducing the number to streamline proceedings. The trial is scheduled to begin on October 26, 2026.
Additional Court Directions
The court also issued several directives, including:
- Legal representatives of the victim’s family to submit any concerns during the trial
- Prison authorities to provide the accused with a diabetic-friendly diet and ensure continued medication
- Both prosecution and defense teams to file submissions regarding the accused’s bail application
With the issue of mental fitness resolved, the long-delayed murder case is now set to proceed. The upcoming hearings will focus on witness testimonies and evidence as the court seeks to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.
