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A shocking murder at Kenya National Hospital (KNH) has left staff, patients, and investigators grappling for answers after 43-year-old Peter Kinyua was found dead in his ward under gruesome circumstances. The incident, which occurred during the early hours of June 15, came to light when a nurse conducting routine checks discovered Kinyua’s blood-soaked blanket. Upon closer inspection, medical staff found his throat slit, prompting immediate alerts to hospital security and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
KNH CEO Evanson Kamuri confirmed the hospital’s cooperation with authorities, expressing condolences to Kinyua’s family and pledging support for funeral arrangements. However, the tragedy has reignited concerns over patient safety at the facility, particularly given its haunting parallels to a nearly identical killing nine years prior.
A Family’s Struggle and Plea for Justice
Kinyua’s widow, Susan Wanjiku, recounted her husband’s decade-long battle with mental illness, which began in 2018. The couple faced relentless challenges, including mounting medical bills from frequent hospitalizations. “We hoped he’d find healing here. Instead, he met a brutal end,” Wanjiku stated, demanding accountability for his death.
Authorities have interrogated over 20 individuals, including patients, nurses, and security personnel, but critical gaps remain. The sole witness in Kinyua’s ward—a fellow patient—was reportedly too frail to provide details. Investigators are now reviewing CCTV footage and forensic evidence to determine whether the perpetrator was an outsider or someone within the hospital.
Eerie Echoes of 2015 Tragedy
The case mirrors the horrific 2015 murder of Cosmas Mutunga Kenyatta, a 42-year-old patient admitted to Ward 8C for a minor ailment. On November 8, Mutunga was discovered lifeless in his bed with stab wounds, a shattered skull, one eye gouged out, and a broken leg. Three nurses were on duty that night, but the only witness, a 12-year-old cancer patient, was deaf, mute, and unable to communicate.
A postmortem later revealed the extent of Mutunga’s injuries, sparking public outrage over lax security at the flagship healthcare institution. Despite pledges to bolster safety measures, Kinyua’s killing suggests systemic vulnerabilities persist.
Calls for Reform
Both cases have exposed alarming lapses in KNH’s protocols, particularly during night shifts when staffing is reduced. Critics argue that the hospital’s open design and inadequate surveillance make wards susceptible to unauthorized access. DCI officials have yet to confirm whether the two murders are linked but acknowledge similarities in execution.
As Kinyua’s family prepares for his burial, Wanjiku’s cries for justice underscore a pressing demand for transparency. “We deserve answers. No family should endure this pain twice,” she said, alluding to the unresolved trauma of Mutunga’s unsolved case.
With investigations ongoing, authorities face mounting pressure to prevent future tragedies and restore public trust in Kenya’s largest referral hospital.
