NAIROBI, KENYA — The family of Sylvia Kemunto, a 19-year-old student at Multimedia University (MMU) who was the victim of a brutal murder on the institution’s campus, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the university administration. The family demands that the university admit liability for what they characterize as a “preventable and tragic loss.”
Represented by the public interest legal group Sheria Mtaani and lawyer Shadrack Wambui, the family has formally accused the university of gross negligence.
In a detailed letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor, the family outlines disturbing allegations surrounding the events of March 30, 2025, the date Kemunto was discovered deceased within the university’s hostel premises.
A post-mortem examination conducted on April 8 by Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, in conjunction with the family’s physician Dr. Martha Mwangi, confirmed the cause of death as strangulation.
She also sustained head injuries caused by a blunt object.
“We observed neck injuries typical of strangulation, suggesting she was deprived of oxygen before death. Based on these findings, we concluded that the cause of death was strangulation,” said Oduor.
The autopsy indicated that the body was decomposed when it was found on April 2 in a water tank at the university hostel.
The primary suspect identified in the case is Philip Eric Mutinda, 19-year-old and a fellow student at Multimedia University (MMU) is alleged to have gained unauthorized access to the hostel prior to the fatal attack on Kemunto.
According to reports, the suspect informed law enforcement that he had attempted to mend his relationship with Kemunto but alleged that she incited him, resulting in a violent confrontation.
It is reported that during the altercation, he pushed her against a wall and a bed, subsequently strangling her with the drawstring of a hoodie. This assault allegedly inflicted head injuries on the victim.
Following the alleged strangulation, Mutinda reportedly placed Kemunto’s body inside a suitcase and moved it to his own room. He is said to have covered the suitcase with a blanket before leaving for approximately 40 minutes. Upon his return, he allegedly moved the body back into the suitcase later that night. Around 4:00 AM on March 31, he reportedly transferred the suitcase containing the body to the rooftop water tank.
The suspect allegedly removed Kemunto’s SIM card, disposed of it within the university grounds, and retained her mobile phone. He subsequently visited a church and offered the phone as a donation. Investigators have since recovered this device, which represents a significant development in the investigation.
The suspect then traveled to his family home and reportedly confessed to his relatives, who then accompanied him to Sultan Hamud Police Station, where he surrendered to authorities.
On April 7, Kibera Magistrate Zainab Abdul issued an order for Mutinda to be detained at Capital Hill Police Station until April 28. This detention period is to allow the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) sufficient time to conclude their inquiries into the case. Court documents indicate that Kemunto was reported missing by her mother, Teresia Ayai, on April 1. Her body was discovered the following day by the university’s security personnel during a search operation.
Mutinda, identified as Kemunto’s former boyfriend, was reportedly last seen entering her room on March 30 and was later observed leaving the premises carrying a heavy suitcase. He subsequently disappeared from the university campus.
He surrendered himself to the police at Sultan Hamud Police Station on April 4 and was later transferred to Capital Hill Police Station. Law enforcement officials have identified him as the primary suspect in the murder investigation.
According to the family’s assertions, the victim had previously reported instances of harassment by the suspect, but the university allegedly failed to take appropriate action in response to her complaints.
“This was not an unforeseeable tragedy—it was one whose warning signs were visible and ignored,” the demand letter explicitly states.
Lawyer Danstan Omari, also representing the bereaved family, strongly condemned what he described as the university’s “cold and deliberate silence,” emphasizing the administration’s lack of any message of condolence to the grieving family.
“Such indifference is as cruel as the act itself,” the letter further asserts.
Sheria Mtaani has issued a warning that failure by the university to provide a satisfactory response within the stipulated seven-day period will result in the initiation of legal proceedings.
This includes the filing of a petition with the Commission for University Education seeking the revocation of the university’s charter under the provisions of Section 22 of the Universities Act.
