The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has reported that there is currently no evidence of an intruder being involved in the death of Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni, who was found motionless in his hospital bed with a deep neck wound on Friday at 6 am.

A nurse discovered Kinyua with his face covered by a blood-stained sheet and immediately alerted hospital staff and security, securing the area as a crime scene.

Police believe an intruder gained access to the ward and killed Kinyua before escaping. However, CCTV cameras were not working at the time, making it difficult to determine how the attacker got in or out.

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Detectives recovered a blood-stained kitchen knife on the ground floor, apparently thrown out of a nearby window.

Addressing the media on Sunday, KNH CEO William Sigilai expressed condolences to Kinyua's family and assured them of the hospital's full support.

He clarified that Kinyua had been referred to KNH from St. Mary's Hospital, Lang'ata, on December 11, 2024, and was admitted to Ward 7B, which specialises in neurological disorders.

The hospital pointed out that this ward is not designated for mental health conditions, as some reports had suggested.

Kinyua had been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder that caused severe muscle weakness in all his limbs, requiring total nursing care, including tube feeding. Despite his serious condition, the hospital maintained that he had remained stable.

"On the night before his death, routine checks were conducted at 9 p.m., midnight, and 3 a.m., and no abnormalities were reported," Sigalai stated.

"However, at around 6 a.m., nurses found him unresponsive with his face covered and a deep wound on his neck," he added.

KNH has assured the public that it is fully cooperating with the authorities to determine the circumstances of Kinyua's death.

“We are deeply saddened to confirm an incident involving the tragic death of a patient at Kenyatta National Hospital. Our thoughts and prayers are with the patient’s family during this difficult time,” KNH Chief Executive Officer Dr. William Sigilai said.

Dr. Sigilai also revealed that the hospital had launched its own internal investigation to determine the facts surrounding the shocking 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,” the CEO added, promising to provide updates as more information becomes available.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has taken over the case.

But Kinyua’s case is not an isolated case at the largest referral hospital in East and Central Africa. In November 2015, Cosmas Mutunga was brutally murdered on his hospital bed, through several stabbing.

National Assembly Committee that investigated the case, in its report, found out that the murder took place between 4 am (when the last observation was made) and 5 pm (when the nurses were changing the shifts).

“Given the description of the stab wounds, it was possible that the patient had been sedated by the time of the murder since he did not make any notice nor scream for help… The patient sharing the

ward with the late Cosmas Mutunga had a speech and hearing impairment. His interrogation

relied heavily on sign language with the assistance of the parents and interpreters.”

During his interrogation, however, he indicated that there was a male and a female in the room during the murder. The patient was eventually released to his family even though he could have been a potential suspect.

After Mutunga’s brutal murder, MPs in the committee recommended that the Inspector General of Police increases armed police officers in the hospital to supplement the existing internal security system.

The Committee also recommended that the KNH management should ensure CCTV cameras are installed at the hospital immediately to avert any such incidents and secure the staff, patients and other visitors.

Meanwhile, Kenyans and political leaders now want Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa to take responsibility for the recent tragic incident.

Reacting to the incident, Nandi senator Samson Cherargei argued that CS Barasa is to blame for the security lapse at the hospital.

The senator argued that the murder pointed to a serious security breach at the country's largest referral hospital; he called on Barasa, Health PS and the management of the facility to consider giving up their posts.

"It's only in Kenya Where in the top most referral hospital by the name Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) that a stranger walks into a hospital ward & stabs to death a patient. The Cabinet Secretary of Health, PS Health and KNH management must take personal responsibility for these security lapses and RESIGN !!!. My condolences to the loved ones of the deceased patient," Cherargei said.

Cherargei's appeal to the foregoing persons was underscored by Nairobi woman representative Esther Passaris.

Passaris demanded that the hospital's management ought to be transparent as the probe into the murder continues.

"These repeated lapses in security are a matter of serious concern. It is imperative that KNH provide transparency and accountability. KNH must take immediate and concrete measures to ensure the safety and security of patients and staff," she said.