Kenya Insights

Tag: Kenyatta National Hospital(KNH)

  • KNH Makes History With World-First Facial Reconstruction Surgery on Boy Disfigured in Bandit Attack

    KNH Makes History With World-First Facial Reconstruction Surgery on Boy Disfigured in Bandit Attack

    Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has achieved a global medical milestone after surgeons successfully performed the world’s first facial reconstruction surgery of its kind on a seven-year-old boy who was disfigured in a bandit attack.

    The nine-hour operation, conducted on Thursday by a joint team of KNH and University of Nairobi specialists, restored both function and appearance to Ian Baraka, who was shot in the face during an attack at the Isiolo-Meru border in December 2023.

    Illustration of the face and the face reconstruction.
    Illustration of the face and the face reconstruction.

    KNH Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, praised the surgical team’s “remarkable expertise, dedication, and courage,” saying the breakthrough “demonstrates Kenya’s rising leadership in specialized healthcare and offers hope to patients across Africa and beyond.”

    The complex procedure was led by Prof. Symon Gathua, Dr. Margaret Mwasha and Dr. Andrew Okiro, with support from Dr. Branice Munyasa, who ran two marathons to raise funds for Ian’s treatment.

    Ian remains in the Intensive Care Unit under close monitoring. KNH said it would provide updates on his recovery while respecting his family’s privacy.

    The surgery cements KNH’s role as a continental leader in medical innovation and marks a new chapter in Africa’s contribution to global healthcare.

  • KNH Blames DCI for Prolonged Stay of Murder Suspect After First Killing

    KNH Blames DCI for Prolonged Stay of Murder Suspect After First Killing

    Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has pointed fingers at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for the extended stay of Kennedy Kalombotole, the prime suspect in the gruesome double murder that has rocked the country’s premier medical facility.

    In a strongly-worded statement released on Friday, KNH acting CEO William Sigilai revealed that the hospital had been compelled to keep Kalombotole within their premises following explicit instructions from the DCI after the first murder incident in February 2025.

    The revelation comes as the hospital faces mounting criticism over security lapses that allowed the suspect to remain in the facility long enough to claim a second victim.

    “Following the death of patient Gilbert Kinyua, the DCI flagged the suspect as a person of interest, and they then advised the Hospital to hold him pending the conclusion of their investigations. The Hospital is awaiting the outcome of the previous incident,” the statement read.

    The hospital’s explanation sheds new light on the circumstances that led to Thursday’s horrific murder of Edward Maingi Ndegwa in ward 7B, where DCI officers found blood stains leading to Kalombotole’s adjacent room.

    The suspect, who had been a long-term patient since November 2022, was immediately arrested and is now facing charges for both killings.

    Kalombotole’s prolonged stay at KNH reads like a tragic tale of a man lost in the system.

    Originally admitted to the ICU in November 2022, he was later moved to the general ward but remained in the hospital as a homeless person with no known relatives or proven identity.

    The hospital made several attempts to identify him through fingerprint analysis and social media campaigns, but these efforts proved unsuccessful.

    A breakthrough came in June 2024 when KNH managed to secure accommodation for Kalombotole and discharged him. However, his freedom was short-lived. He fell ill in December 2024, was readmitted to KNH, and discharged again in January 2025. The facility that had previously housed him declined to take him back for unexplained reasons, leaving the hospital with no choice but to accommodate him while searching for alternative arrangements.

    The situation became more complicated after Gilbert Kinyua’s death in February 2025. With the DCI’s directive to hold Kalombotole pending investigations into the first murder, the hospital found itself in an impossible position. Despite having discharged him medically, they were forced to continue housing a person of interest in an active murder investigation.

    “We emphasize that the suspect had been discharged, and the Hospital did not intend or desire to host him indefinitely. However, in the absence of alternative options and pending direction from investigative agencies, we had no choice but to continue with his stay in the Hospital,” Sigilai explained.

    The hospital’s statement reveals a systemic failure that highlights the challenges faced by public health institutions when dealing with homeless patients and the intersection of healthcare and law enforcement. The fact that a murder suspect remained within reach of vulnerable patients for months raises serious questions about security protocols and inter-agency coordination.

    Thursday’s murder occurred during visiting hours when Ndegwa had just been visited by a relative. The victim was discovered unresponsive in his hospital bed with what medical staff described as a deep cut to his neck. The swift arrest of Kalombotole, following a trail of blood evidence, suggests the second murder could have been prevented with proper security measures.

    The double homicide at KNH has exposed critical gaps in the hospital’s security infrastructure and raised uncomfortable questions about the safety of patients in Kenya’s public health facilities. While the hospital deflects blame to the DCI for the prolonged stay, the incident underscores the need for comprehensive reforms in how such cases are handled.

    As investigations continue, KNH has promised full cooperation with the DCI and other investigative bodies. The hospital has also announced plans for a postmortem examination to determine the exact cause of Ndegwa’s death, while extending condolences to the families of both victims.

    The case of Kennedy Kalombotole represents a perfect storm of institutional failures – a healthcare system struggling with homeless patients, law enforcement agencies working in silos, and the absence of adequate social safety nets. As the investigation unfolds, the focus will inevitably shift to ensuring such a tragedy never repeats itself in Kenya’s hospitals.

  • Man Linked To Double Gruesome Murders in KNH Wards Arrested at The Hospital

    Man Linked To Double Gruesome Murders in KNH Wards Arrested at The Hospital

    Police connect suspect to brutal killings of patients in February and July incidents at Kenya’s largest referral hospital

    NAIROBI – Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested a prime suspect in connection with two gruesome murders at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), raising serious questions about patient safety at the country’s premier medical facility.

    The suspect,Kennedy Kalombotole, is linked to the brutal killing of Edward Maingi Ndegwa on July 17, 2025, and the February murder of Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni, both patients who had their throats slit while admitted to the hospital’s Ward 7 complex.

    The most recent victim, Ndegwa, was found dead in his bed at Ward 7B on Wednesday afternoon in what investigators describe as a calculated attack.

    The 40-year-old patient, who had a physical disability, was discovered with his throat slit around 2:00 p.m., just after visiting hours had ended.

    Hospital records show that Ndegwa had been stable when checked by nursing staff at 11:30 a.m. and during a family visit that ended at 1:30 p.m.

    The grisly discovery was made by a cleaner who noticed a pool of blood around the patient’s neck during routine rounds.

    Crime scene investigators found a trail of blood-stained slipper prints leading from Ndegwa’s bedside to a nearby toilet and eventually to a side room where the suspect was admitted.

    Inside the room, police recovered blue slippers and a blood-stained bedsheet. A knife wrapped in gloves was found on the ground seven floors below the victim’s ward window.

    The arrest connects the suspect to the February 6-7 murder of Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni, 40, who was killed in Ward 7C under similar circumstances.

    Hospital records indicate the suspect had been admitted to KNH on December 1, 2024, and was still a patient during both incidents.

    “Detectives suspect that the suspect may be a serial killer, although the motive behind the killings is yet to be established,” according to police sources familiar with the investigation.

    The similarities between the cases are striking. Both victims had their throats slit while in their hospital beds, and both incidents occurred in the Ward 7 complex.

    A postmortem on Muthoni revealed his wound was approximately three centimeters deep and was the cause of death.

    The recent murders echo a disturbing 2015 case at KNH when Cosmas Mutunga Kenyatta, 42, was found murdered in Ward 8C.

    That victim had been stabbed 42 times, with his skull crushed and eyes gouged out. The case remains unsolved.

    The pattern of patient murders at East Africa’s largest referral hospital has prompted urgent questions about internal security protocols and patient protection measures.

    KNH Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. William Sigilai confirmed the July 17 death in a statement, expressing shock over the incident.

    “The matter has since been reported to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and other government security agencies. Our thoughts and prayers are with the patient’s family during this difficult time,” Dr. Sigilai stated.

    The hospital has provided investigators with CCTV footage from Ward 7B, though management noted that privacy regulations prevent cameras from being installed inside patient rooms.

    Kilimani Police Commander Patricia Yegon and DCI counterpart Hussein Mahat visited the crime scene and spent considerable time investigating the murder.

    All recovered evidence has been forwarded to the National Forensic Laboratory for detailed analysis.

    The case file has been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which has directed investigating officers to conduct further inquiries to strengthen the prosecution’s case.

    DNA samples have been collected, and homicide detectives are working to establish the suspect’s medical condition and potential motives for the attacks.

    The incidents have renewed scrutiny of KNH’s security protocols and raised concerns about the safety of vulnerable patients.

    The fact that the suspect was a fellow patient during both incidents highlights potential gaps in monitoring and risk assessment procedures.

    Hospital management faces pressure to explain how a patient could carry out such attacks while under medical care, particularly given the hospital’s status as a major referral facility treating thousands of patients annually.

    The investigation into all three killings – 2015, February 2025, and July 2025 – remains ongoing as authorities work to prevent further incidents and ensure patient safety at the facility.

  • Wife of Patient Found Dead with Slit Throat at KNH Speaks Out as Detectives Probe Shocking Murder

    Wife of Patient Found Dead with Slit Throat at KNH Speaks Out as Detectives Probe Shocking Murder

    For Susan Wanjiku, the past 24 hours have been a relentless nightmare, one that began with a phone call and has since spiraled into an abyss of grief and unanswered questions.

    Her husband, Gilbert Kinyua, was found brutally murdered in his hospital bed at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) on the morning of Friday, February 7.

    The 58-year-old, who had been receiving treatment for nearly two months, had his throat slit in what is now being investigated as a shocking and deeply troubling murder.

    “I was too shocked to speak when I saw him,” Susan recounted while speaking to reporters. “There was a pool of blood on the bed and his clothes. His neck was cut from side to side, and there were signs of struggle. It was as if the killer had time.”

    Susan Wanjiku, wife of Gilbert Kinyua, who was killed in Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), is accompanied by her relatives as they follow the incident at the Hospital on February 8, 2025 [Boniface Okendo, Standard]
    Kinyua, a father of two, had been admitted to Ward 7B on the seventh floor of KNH since December 11, 2024, for treatment of bed sores and wounds.

    Susan, who had been her husband’s primary caregiver, last saw him on Tuesday, February 4, when she fed him blended beetroot and mango juice.

    “He told me to ask the doctors if he would need a grafting procedure. He was hopeful, asking me to bring ointment for his wounds and sending greetings to our sons,” she said.

    Unanswered Question and mounting probe

    The murder has raised serious questions about security at KNH, one of Kenya’s most prominent medical facilities.

    Susan expressed disbelief that such an attack could occur in a heavily guarded hospital. “How could nobody have heard anything? Not even the nurses at the station or other patients? In my view, this was an inside job,” she said.

    Kinyua was in Ward 7B, a section of the hospital that housed several other patients, including one who had become a trusted companion to him. A pastor had also introduced himself to the family, offering spiritual encouragement. Yet, despite these people around, no one seems to have witnessed the attack.

    Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are now probing the case, with a focus on a male patient who shared the same room as Kinyua. The patient, who is recovering from a mental illness, is expected to provide a statement once cleared by a psychiatrist. Investigators have also collected a kitchen knife found on the hospital’s first-floor roof, believed to be the murder weapon, for fingerprint analysis.

    KNH has launched an internal investigation and is cooperating with law enforcement. However, the lack of credible clues from CCTV footage and the absence of witnesses have complicated the case.

    A Family’s Search for Justice

    For Susan, the loss is unbearable. Married to Kinyua since 2011, she described him as a loving and kind man who dreamed of providing a stable life for his family. “He was a social man, full of life. He called me an angel,” she said, tears streaming down her face.

    Kinyua’s health struggles began in 2012, leading to multiple hospitalizations and diagnoses, including Parkinson’s and Fournier’s gangrene. Despite the challenges, Susan remained hopeful for his recovery. Now, she is left seeking answers and justice.

    “Who killed him? Why? And why didn’t anyone protect him at a facility I entrusted to?” she asked.

    As the investigation continues, Susan and her two sons, aged 11 and nine, are left to mourn a husband and father whose life was tragically cut short in a place meant for healing.

  • Shock As Patient Found Murdered With A Slit Throat In Ward At KNH

    Shock As Patient Found Murdered With A Slit Throat In Ward At KNH

    Police are investigating an incident in which a patient was attacked and killed in a ward at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

    The male patient was found dead in his bed with his throat slashed.

    Other patients told police and KNH officials an intruder went to the ward and killed the patient Friday February 7 morning.

    Police visited the scene and determined there was an intruder.

    They also established the CCTV cameras were not working at the time of the incident.

    This has raised questions on how the cameras failed for almost four days with no attention or action.

    KNH said they are deeply saddened to confirm the incident involving the tragic death of a patient.

    Acting CEO Dr William Sigilai said they are investigating the incident.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with the patient’s family during this difficult time.

    The Hospital is working closely with law enforcement authorities and has launched an internal investigation to determine the facts surrounding this incident.”

    “Kenyatta National Hospital remains committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all.

    The safety and well-being of our patients, staff, and visitors are our utmost priority,” he said in a statement.

    The incident patients and their relatives at the country’s biggest referral hospital.

    It came nine years after a similar killing happened at the same facility.

    Cosmas Mutunga Kenyatta, 42, who was found brutally murdered on his hospital bed in November 2015.

    Mutunga was admitted to the hospital’s Ward 8C on November 8 and was found dead in the night with stab wounds and one of his eyes gouged out.

    He was with an incapacitated and deaf cancer patient at the time he was killed. Three nurses were on duty on the night of the brutal murder.

    The only witness to the murder was a 12-year-old patient who could neither hear, speak or write.

    Mutunga, a father-of-four, was killed hours after his family visited him at the hospital and just days after they had donated blood to enable him undergo chemotherapy.

    He was hit and stabbed 42 times in an act of violence.

    Investigators found out that those who killed Cosmas Mutunga, a former procurement manager at Mada Hotels Limited, were a man and a woman.

    A postmortem report indicated that Mutunga was badly battered, his skull broken, eyes gouged out and one of his legs shattered in a sad episode that exposed security lapses at the region’s largest referral facility.

  • I Was Trailed, Dragged And Bullied, Grace Mulei Narrates Her Ordeal With Police

    I Was Trailed, Dragged And Bullied, Grace Mulei Narrates Her Ordeal With Police

    Grace Njoki Mulei, who was arrested after storming Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa’s press briefing at Afya House last week, has narrated how she was trailed, dragged and bullied by police officers during her arrest.

    In a distressing account of the ordeal, Njoki described being forcefully removed from Ladnan Hospital in Eastleigh, where she had gone to seek medical attention. She claimed that the police officers who apprehended her refused to identify themselves and manhandled her as they took her into custody.

    “I had gone to Ladnan Hospital for treatment when I saw a security officer I had earlier seen at Kenyatta National Hospital. I sensed I was being followed and asked the officer why he was there. He claimed he was visiting a patient,” Njoki said.

    Shortly after, two police officers approached her, demanding she accompany them. When Njoki inquired why, they insisted it was not an arrest but did not provide further clarification.

    “I was dragged out of the hospital, bullied, and pinched. They didn’t tell me why I was being arrested or where they were taking me. They insisted I write a statement, but when I asked what it was about, they refused to explain. Throughout the whole ordeal, I felt threatened,” Njoki recounted, visibly shaken by the experience. “I have a heart condition, and they didn’t care. All they wanted was for me to write a statement, even though I had no idea what it was for,” she added.

    Njoki said she called her husband and son to inform them of the situation but claimed the officers confiscated her phone. Attempts by hospital staff to intervene were unsuccessful.

    She recounted being driven around the Central Business District and taken to three different locations, none of which she could clearly identify. Throughout the ordeal, she pleaded for answers, offering to visit a police station to record a statement after receiving treatment.

    “I was not arrested; I was abducted. I was only seeking treatment. My mistake was fighting for voiceless patients,” she said.

    Njoki emphasized that the manner in which she was treated was uncalled for, especially given that she had only gone to the Ministry of Health to advocate for patients who she believes are being denied proper care. “I’m not a politician. I’m a nurse, and I’ve always fought for patients’ rights. I went there to speak up for those who don’t have a voice. It’s wrong to take their money and not provide the treatment they need,” she said.

    She further stated that the police should have summoned her to the station if they needed her to make a statement, instead of resorting to such aggressive tactics. “They didn’t need to treat me this way. If they wanted me to record a statement, they could have simply asked me to come to the station,” she said.

    Njoki, who was arrested along with another woman during a protest over delays in implementing the SHAH health program, reiterated that her actions were motivated by a desire to see change in the healthcare system, not by political interests. “I am fighting for patients who don’t have the resources or the platform to speak up. That’s why I went there,” she said.

    Her lawyer and supporters have voiced their concerns about the way the police handled the situation, with many arguing that her actions were within her rights as a concerned citizen. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) later clarified that Njoki was arrested for causing a disturbance during the press briefing.

    Njoki’s son, George Mulei, who was alerted during the incident, said his mother called him in panic, stating that they had “come for her.” By the time he reached the hospital, she had already been taken into custody.

    Despite the troubling events, Njoki remains determined to continue her advocacy for patient rights, vowing not to be silenced by the mistreatment she faced.

  • KUTRRH Hires Five Foreign Doctors, Over 100 Striking Medics Served With Dismissal Letters

    KUTRRH Hires Five Foreign Doctors, Over 100 Striking Medics Served With Dismissal Letters

    As doctors’ strike continues for the fourth week running, the Kenyatta University Teaching Research and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH) has hired five oncologists from the East African region and recalled patients who were on chemotherapy.

    Hospital Board Chairperson Prof. Olive Mugenda said three doctors were sourced from Ethiopia and one each from Tanzania and Malawi.

    Speaking to journalists at the facility today, the Prof said the five will help revive the oncology unit, the facility’s flagship area, whose operations had stopped due to the strike.

    She divulged some 45 patients who had already started chemo but stopped and forced to go home due to the strike have been recalled and another 40 new ones are being attended to.

    The new medics, she said, have been approved by the government and will be incorporated in the facility even after the strike is called off to help address the huge demand for cancer treatment at the facility.

    “The hospital receives a very high number of cancer patients and the doctors will be highly required at the facility,” she said.

    At the same time, the Prof said despite the strike, some units in the hospital have been operational, including the radiotherapy department, the renal and imaging center, as well as the accident and emergency units.

    She added that the hospital has dismissed some of the striking doctors and given suspension letters to others over the strike which she said was uncalled for.

    “From the facility, 132 doctors are engaging in industrial action while about 82 doctors are working. The striking doctors should resume work and give dialogue a chance,” she said.

    Prof Mugenda spoke even as cancer patients who had jammed the facility expressed relief about resumption of treatment.

    Rachel Nyokabi Kariuki, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021, said she had contemplated committing suicide out of desperation after her hopes to get treatment were dashed by the strike.

    “I lost my left breast to cancer and I have been going for radiotherapy services at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) until the doctors went on strike. I’ve been living with excruciating pain and even contemplated committing suicide,” she said.

    Nyokabi says she received a call to be taken to KUTRRH for free treatment from the Health Ministry, much to her relief.

    “I received a call from the head of Oncology from KUTRRH who told me to report at the facility and that I’d be treated for free on directions from the Ministry. I am grateful and my hopes of living longer have been revived,” she said.

    Esther Wanjiku, another cancer patient, from Kiambu was grateful for the resumption of services at the hospital.

    She too received a call from the hospital to resume chemotherapy services. She noted that the pain was unbearable and made her weak.

    “Patients are suffering out here and a solution needs to be found. The pain I was going through was too much and luckily, the hospital heard our cry,” said Wanjiku.

  • KNH Woes Blamed On CEO Kamuri’s Mismanagement As Staff Deaths Increases

    KNH Woes Blamed On CEO Kamuri’s Mismanagement As Staff Deaths Increases

    So the issue of lack of oxygen in KNH, that was previously highlighted, is now taking a new turn. Everyone in the hospital is complaining and questioning why the situation has to exist in KNH at a time like this when oxygen is highly needed the most in the hospital. Staff continue to die in large numbers still. “The management remains arrogant about the happenings. It’s only God who can help at this stage.” Says staff talking to Kenya Insights.

    According to information received from the staff, some of the key issues crippling the National Hospital.

    Three issues unfold:

    a. Doctors’ strike

    There has been misreporting by KNH management to paint a bad picture to the doctors who are pursuing their masters in UoN, and study as they work in KNH. Senior doctors in the hospital are unhappy with how the institution is run. Some have even resigned.The CEO takes issues so personal and arrogantly and if he happens not to like you, or if you seem firm in your doings then he starts to fight you from nowhere. He is currently running the institution as his own house where no one should query anything and if you do then he assumes you don’t want to support him. He’s been heard severally saying so loudly that nothing can be done to him na mkitaka endeni mahali mnataka. He once told doctors to go to hell with their complaints.

    “For those who may not be aware, Kamuri has three wives, THREE girlfriends,  and several clandes, all of them employees of KNH, which could be the reason why he sometimes mistakes the hospital for his house/bedroom. The numbers increase every time there is an employment opportunity in KNH.” Letter to Kenya Insights reads.

    “He micro manages HR and supplies departments to a point where the people incharge of the dockets are just puppets and toys who just act according to the instructions from THE MIGHTY. Several senior doctors have been threatened and others demoted just because of their stand in quality service delivery and firmness on how things should be done. The boss thrives in shortcuts.” It continues.

    The truth of the matter is the doctors have been having meetings to see how KNH can improve their services and find a way out on how the issue of lack of oxygen which has increased deaths so abnormally can be sorted. They blamed the management for the increased deaths and advised them to take proper measures so as to make sure that the issues don’t continue. The management instead turned against them and immediately and arrogantly terminated their contracts without even following the HR procedures. This is the same thing that happened to madam Mugambi, the former director of nursing who disagreed with him and was dumped to the ministry among others. It’s the trend.

    b. Lack of a Board of Management

    KNH currently doesn’t have a board of management. The term of the previous board members expired and they are yet to be replaced. It’s only the chairman who is in office since his term started later than the others. This has brought a serious gap in the management since there is no one to oversee what these cartels are doing. The chairman of the board has been termed as a weak one and one who cant querry anything.

    “He sees and hears what is happening but does totally nothing. At this time the business is taking up more hospitals so that the pool of money to fetch from is increased. The union also is quiet and in sleep mode.” Reads the long complaints.

    c. Lack of insurance cover for staff

    KNH has currently lost many staff to covid. A bigger reason being the issue of lack of oxygen. Even with this, HR and the management are acting very insensitive and inhumane. When the dependents ask for compensation, they are told to wait. Since the start of July, the dependents whose relatives have died cannot and have not been compensated. Two months down the line and to add salt to the injury, they are told by HR that they don’t know when the payment can be done since the hospital doesn’t have insurance cover for the staff. This has been the highest level of negligence. On enquiring further, you are told procurement has not awarded the tender and so there are no insurance covers. This is the third month of such and every day those guys are buying new cars and houses without minding the most sensitive matters of staff and patients honestly. At this point it’s only God who can help.

    The arrogance and ignorance is majorly because they enjoy protection from the ministry bosses. Procurement department now says they are handling the matter and reliable sources have informed staff that the matter of insurance has a corruption case that is under investigation and the management is busy lobbying and dishing money to silence the case. Every employee is worried about what could happen to them or their dependents incase of the worst.  Procurement and HR departments are the worst run in KNH. Because that’s where all the loopholes exist. They’ve made sure they don’t follow the law. Kamuri is the law. Karma will hit them the worst.