Senator Enoch Wambua of Kitui County has sounded the alarm over rising security concerns at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and within the parliamentary precincts, urging the government to take immediate action to safeguard lives and restore public confidence.

Speaking during a Senate session on Thursday, July 23, 2025, Wambua joined other lawmakers in reacting to a statement request by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who had sought answers from the Standing Committee on Health over the deteriorating safety at the country’s largest referral hospital.

The discussion was also bolstered by contributions from Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu, who raised the issue of vulnerable patients abandoned in hospitals due to a lack of homes or family support.

Murder at KNH

Wambua expressed deep concern following the murder of a patient at KNH’s Ward C last week. “It is a very sad situation when the biggest teaching and referral hospital in Kenya, where patients are supposed to feel safe, becomes a place of fear,” he said. “People no longer know who might be attacked next. Something urgent needs to be done to salvage the image of that institution.”

His comments come in the wake of a series of troubling security lapses at KNH, including a second reported killing detailed by a local publication on July 18. A person of interest in the case, Kennedy Kalombotole, was arraigned at the Kibera Law Courts and detained pending further investigations. The incidents have sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny of the hospital’s internal security protocols.

Lawmakers under threat

Senator Wambua further extended his concerns to Parliament, warning of growing vulnerability due to unchecked public access to legislative premises. “We also need to ensure the safety of Members of Parliament. While the public must have access to the precincts of Parliament, it must be done in a manner that guarantees our safety and security,” he said. “We cannot afford to see a situation like that that happened at Kenyatta.”

Wambua emphasised the need for a comprehensive review of safety protocols, not only in health institutions but also in public buildings that house critical national functions.

Calls for patient protection

Echoing Wambua’s concerns, Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu decried the conditions faced by patients who are unable to leave hospitals due to financial or familial constraints.

“Some recover but are not discharged because they have no homes. The government should build homes for such people,” she urged.

She added that the recent murder had left many patients feeling unsafe. “It is shocking for someone to come to the hospital to heal and end up fearing for their life. Recovery becomes difficult under such circumstances.”

Both lawmakers questioned the Ministry of Health’s preparedness and called for deployment of more security officers to hospitals to safeguard both patients and staff.