You have ExpressVPN.app installed. Mac OS does not require or benefit in ANY way by having the following types of third party apps installed:
- Antivirus
- VPN
- Security
- Cleaning
- Maintenance
Please uninstall ExpressVPN.app per the developers instructions and then retest. All Mac OS needs in order to remain fast and secure is simply being kept up-to-date and restarting the computer about 1x per week. Your computer is VERY antiquated though and Apple does not provide security updates on it any longer. This means the longer you have it the less secure it becomes, however it is still much more secure in its native form than by polluting it with a third party VPN. I strongly recommend considering replacing the old girl, it's 12 years old and well past its prime.
In addition, I see a third party SSD installed. It is possible that is also causing an issue too, difficult to tell. To eliminate the SSD then first uninstall the VPN app, then restart in Safe Mode and restart normally and test the computer for a few days. If the KP's disappear then you know it was the VPN. If the KPs continue then you need to continue troubleshooting or as I already recommended consider replacing it.