After months of delays over his mental state, Kennedy Kalombotole appeared before Justice Diana Kavedza at the High Court in Nairobi on Thursday to face a murder charge.

The court accepted findings from a three-member psychiatric panel at Mathare National Teaching and Referral Hospital, which declared him fit to stand trial. Justice Kavedza then read the charge sheet, accusing Kalombotole of murdering Gilbert Kinyua Muthoni between February 6 and 7, 2025, at Kenyatta National Hospital’s Ward 7B. Kalombotole pleaded not guilty.

This long-awaited plea breaks a year-long stalemate driven by conflicting medical evaluations. The disagreement previously led the court to consider sending Kalombotole to South Africa for an independent evaluation, but Justice Kavedza ultimately ordered a local three-doctor panel to resolve the dispute. Their final assessment cleared the path for prosecutors to officially launch the murder trial.

State prosecutors plan to call roughly 20 witnesses, including the pathologist who performed the autopsy. However, Justice Kavedza urged the prosecution team to streamline their witness list to around 16 people to keep the proceedings moving efficiently.

She scheduled the trial to begin on October 26, 2026, while directing lawyers representing the victim’s family to raise any victim-interest concerns during the proceedings.

While Kalombotole awaits trial, Justice Kavedza ordered prison officials to accommodate his health needs by providing a diabetic diet and ensuring he receives his daily medication. The court also asked both the defense and prosecution teams to submit their arguments regarding his bail application.