The prime suspect in the murder of Sylvia Kemunto, a first-year student at Multimedia University (MMU), has told police that she died after a confrontation between the two turned physical inside her hostel room.
Philip Eric Mutinda, a fellow first-year student studying Electrical Engineering, claims that he had visited Kemunto on March 30, knowing she would be alone in her room.
The suspect allegedly attempted to make advances towards her, which she rejected.
He told investigators that an argument ensued, leading to a struggle where he pushed her against a wall, causing her to hit her head and collapse.
Mutinda says he realized shortly afterward that she had died.
Detectives believe Mutinda, after realizing Kemunto was unresponsive, panicked and moved her body.
He reportedly placed her body in a large suitcase and initially kept it 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 conceal the crime.
The discovery of Kemunto’s body was made on April 2 after students and staff reported a foul smell emanating from Block E.
The body was found in a water tank and was subsequently moved to the mortuary.
A post-mortem is scheduled to confirm the exact cause of death.
Mutinda, who had gone into hiding following the incident, surrendered to police at Sultan Hamud police station in Makueni County on April 3, after being on the run since March 31.
Investigators say he fled to his rural home after the murder, before ultimately returning to face arrest.
Kemunto, a 20-year-old Mass Communication and Computer Science student, was reported missing by her mother, Triza Kwamboka, on March 30 after she failed to contact her.
Kemunto’s mother had previously expressed concerns that her daughter had been harassed by a fellow student, though it is unclear if this was related to the incident.
Witnesses have also described seeing Mutinda dragging a suitcase from Kemunto’s room to his own in a different block. The following morning, his roommate noticed the suitcase in their room, but it was gone by the next day.
Kemunto’s phone signal was traced within the university compound before it was turned off near Ongata Rongai, further heightening suspicions that she had been taken off-campus.
Detectives have yet to conduct a post-mortem to determine the precise cause of death, but they are seeking additional time to complete forensic work and interview more witnesses.
The suspect is expected to appear before court today, April 7, where police will seek custodial orders to continue holding him as investigations proceed.
