The prime suspect in the tragic murder of Sylvia Kemunto, a first-year student at Multimedia University (MMU), Philip Eric Mutinda, has been granted 21 days in police custody by Kibera Law Court as investigators continue to piece together the events leading to the student’s untimely death.
Mutinda, an Electrical Engineering student at the same institution, is accused of causing Kemunto’s death following a violent confrontation inside her hostel room on March 30.
The suspect’s actions have since sparked outrage within the university community and among Kemunto’s family and friends, who continue to demand justice for the 20-year-old Mass Communication and Computer Science student.
According to the statements provided by Mutinda, he visited Kemunto’s room on the fateful day, knowing she would be alone.
Suspect Reveals How MMU Student Sylvia Kemunto Lost Her Life
He reportedly attempted to make romantic advances toward her, which she rejected.
This prompted a heated argument between the two, escalating into a physical altercation. In the course of the struggle, Mutinda claimed that he pushed Kemunto against a wall, causing her to hit her head, collapse, and lose consciousness.
Realizing that she had died, Mutinda said he was overcome with panic, leading him to move her body in a desperate attempt to conceal his actions.
Mutinda allegedly placed Kemunto’s lifeless body into a large suitcase, which he initially stored in his own room.
Later, he transferred the body to a water tank on the rooftop of one of the university’s hostels, hoping to hide any evidence of the crime.
The gruesome discovery of Kemunto’s body occurred on April 2, after students and staff reported a foul smell emanating from Block E.
The body was subsequently retrieved from the water tank and moved to the mortuary for further examination.
The police investigation has revealed chilling details about the moments following Kemunto’s death.
Witnesses have described seeing Mutinda dragging a suitcase from Kemunto’s room to his own, which added further suspicion about his involvement.
One of his roommates noticed the suitcase in their room the following morning, only to find it gone the next day.
The police have also traced the victim’s phone signal, which was initially detected within the university compound.
However, the signal was soon switched off near Ongata Rongai, intensifying suspicions that Kemunto may have been removed from the campus grounds after her death.
Kemunto’s mother, Triza Kwamboka, reported her daughter missing on March 30 after failing to contact her.
Prior to the disappearance, the mother had expressed concerns about harassment by a fellow student, though it remains unclear whether this issue was connected to the tragic events.
Mutinda, who had gone into hiding following the murder, managed to elude police for several days.
After fleeing to his rural home in Makueni County, he surrendered to authorities on April 3 at the Sultan Hamud police station, where he was taken into custody.
As the investigation continues, the police are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Investigators have requested additional time to complete forensic work and to interview more witnesses who may have information relevant to the case.
On April 7, the suspect appeared before the Kibera Law Court, where the police successfully sought a 21-day detention order to allow for further investigations into the murder.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the family of Sylvia Kemunto and the wider university community continue to demand justice for her senseless death.
Mutinda is expected to remain in custody during the investigation period as the authorities work to uncover the full extent of the events that led to Kemunto’s tragic and untimely death.
