A Nairobi court has made an important decision in the case involving Kennedy Kalombotole, the man accused of killing two patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. The ruling has drawn strong public attention because of the seriousness of the allegations and the questions it raises about mental health, justice, and public safety.
The High Court ruled that Kalombotole is currently not mentally fit to stand trial, a decision that has changed the direction of the case and delayed further legal steps.
During the court session, Kalombotole’s lawyer, Philip Maiyo, presented a psychiatric report from Arrow Medical Centre.
The report explained that his client was not in a stable mental condition and could not properly understand what was happening in court.
According to the psychiatrist who prepared the report, Kalombotole was not aware of the charges against him and was unable to follow court proceedings in a meaningful way. This raised serious concerns about whether he could fairly take part in his own defence.
After reviewing the report, Justice Diana Kavedza ruled that the court could not move forward with the case at this stage. She postponed the matter to December 17, 2025, to allow time for a second mental health assessment.
This new evaluation will be conducted at Kenyatta National Hospital by another psychiatrist. The judge made it clear that a fresh and independent medical opinion is necessary before any plea can be taken.
Kalombotole was arrested in July 2025 after he was accused of killing a patient named Edward Maingi Ndegwa inside a ward at Kenyatta National Hospital.
The case shocked many people because hospitals are meant to be safe places for healing and care.
As investigations continued, officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations linked him to another earlier death at the same hospital. The second victim, Gilbert Kinyua, was found dead in February with injuries that suggested he had been attacked. These discoveries deepened public concern and raised serious questions about safety within medical facilities.
The court’s decision now places the focus on Kalombotole’s mental condition rather than immediate prosecution. If the second medical report confirms that he is still unfit to stand trial, he may continue receiving treatment under medical supervision instead of facing court proceedings right away.
However, if doctors later find that he is mentally stable, the case could move forward, and he may be required to answer the charges against him.
This ruling highlights the delicate balance between justice and mental health care. While the families of the victims and the public continue to seek accountability, the law also requires that an accused person fully understands the case against them before a trial can begin.