Investigations into the gruesome murder of a patient at the Kenyatta National Hospital Gilbert Kinyua took a new turn on Friday after the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health urged investigative agencies to consider his former bedmate as a person of interest in the murder case.
An autopsy on the body of Kinyua showed he had a 3 centimeter deep cut in the throat. He also had blisters on his back indicating he had slept on it for long without attention.
The committee, chaired by Endebess MP Hon. (Dr.) Robert Pukose, during a fact-finding mission to KNH learned that Kinyua’s former bedmate in Ward 7B had been diagnosed with diabetes and convulsions.
Although he was treated and discharged, he remained at the hospital after his caregivers refused to take him back, citing his misconduct.
Dr. William Sigilai, representing Dr. Evanson N. Kamuri, Chief Executive Officer of KNH, informed the MPs that the patient in question had been discharged at the time of Kinyua’s death.
“He is our old patient and is homeless. He had diabetes and convulsions and was previously treated here but could not be discharged due to his situation. We actually found him a shelter through one of our partners because we have a number of homeless patients at KNH. His fingerprints have been taken to the National Registration Bureau,” Dr. Sigilai stated.
However, Seme MP James Nyikal interjected, saying, “I am interested in this patient. He has diabetes and convulsions, but what is his mental status? You and I know that convulsions are not always obvious seizures—sometimes, they manifest as convulsive behavior, where a person acts without later recalling their actions.”
However, Dr. Sigilai explained that the patient had been treated and discharged but did not leave the hospital as he was homeless.
Although KNH had previously secured a shelter for him, he was later brought back after the facility refused to readmit him due to his disruptive behavior.
“The matter is still with the DCI,” he added.
The circumstances surrounding Kinyua’s gruesome murder have raised serious concerns about patient safety and hospital security within the country’s largest referral facility.
The committee members expressed its shock and dismay over the incident, calling for swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Addressing a press conference after touring KNH and assessing the safety measures in place for both patients and staff, Dr. Pukose stated that his committee was generally satisfied with the briefings from the hospital management.
However, he emphasized the need for internal security improvements.
“There is room for improvement, particularly on the internal front, to enhance security within the hospital,” he said.
“The focus has largely been on external threats, but we must also strengthen internal security to ensure the safety of both patients and staff. That is the key takeaway from our findings.”
Regarding the gruesome murder of Gilbert Kinyua, Dr. Pukose stated that the committee is satisfied with the progress made by investigative agencies.
“We hope they will conclude their investigations soon and ensure that those responsible for his death are arrested and charged in a court of law,” he said.
Dr. Pukose emphasized the need to allow the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to conduct their investigations independently and without interference to ensure impartial findings.
“We are here as Parliament to ensure that the family gets justice and to establish who is responsible for this unfortunate death. That is why we are satisfied with the investigations being conducted by the DCI and the cooperation they have received from the hospital administration to ensure a thorough process,” Dr. Pukose stated.
“When the post-mortem was conducted, both government and independent pathologists were present. The results have not been released to the hospital but have been handed over to the DCI. Additionally, samples have been sent to the government chemist for analysis. We believe this is the right course of action, and the hospital has acted promptly,” he added.
However, he clarified that the hospital management is not an investigative agency but must cooperate fully to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
The committee recommended enhanced security measures at Kenyatta National Hospital, emphasizing internal security and routine patient checkups.
They also suggested installing screening devices at entry points to prevent weapons from being brought in, considering the hospital receives approximately 30,000 visitors daily.
“The committee will support the implementation of internal security measures at Kenyatta National Hospital, including the installation of screening devices at entry points to check both individuals and their belongings. Given that the hospital receives nearly 30,000 visitors daily, it may not be feasible to record every individual, but ensuring that all visitors pass through a screening system will help prevent weapons from being brought in,” Dr. Pukose stated.
Dr. Sigilai, in his submission, assured the committee that KNH was fully cooperating with investigative agencies and had already provided relevant information to law enforcement officers handling the case.
He also stated that the hospital management had launched an internal review to establish any security lapses that may have contributed to Kinyua’s death.
“Our security team responded immediately after the incident was reported, and we have since provided full access to relevant records and surveillance footage to aid the investigation. We are committed to ensuring justice is served,” said Dr. Sigilai.
Dr. Sigilai emphasized that the hospital management has been fully cooperative in handling the matter, maintaining transparency with the family by sharing all available information.
“We have not failed to meet any of their requests. Our doors remain open, and we continue to support them through the impact of their loss. I am confident that, in due course, we will have addressed all their concerns,” he stated.
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