Prime suspect in murder of MMU student Sylvia Kemunto surrenders to police

Philip Eric Mutinda, the prime suspect in the murder of Multimedia University (MMU) student Sylvia Kemunto has surrendered to police at Sultan Hamud, Makueni County.

Mutinda, a first-year Electrical Engineering student at MMU, is believed to be behind the murder of Kemunto whose body was discovered on Wednesday night in a water tank at the rooftop of a hostel within the institution’s compound.

Kemunto, a First Year Mass Communications and Computer Science major, disappeared under mysterious circumstances on Sunday, March 30, 2025.

Her mother, Triza Kwamboka, who lives in Kawangware, had sent her upkeep money through a church elder's phone. When she tried to confirm whether her daughter had received the funds, her calls went unanswered.

Growing concerned, Kemunto's mother travelled to the university, only to discover that her daughter was missing.

The school management confirmed her absence, prompting the mother to file a report at Langata Police Station, where an Occurrence Book (OB) entry was made.

On the day of her disappearance, Kemunto's roommate had gone to church, leaving her alone in their Block B room, number 90.

Investigations reveal that Kemunto's boyfriend, Philip Eric Mutinda visited her room around 1pm that day.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that Mutinda was seen struggling with a suitcase, allegedly belonging to Kemunto, as he moved it from her room on the third floor to his own residence in Block E, room number 301.

Later that night, Mutinda's roommate reportedly noticed the suitcase in their room, but it was missing the following morning.

Police investigations began immediately, tracing Kemunto's phone records. The signal placed her within the university compound, but her phone was switched off at approximately 10pm on the day she disappeared. This prompted the school management to initiate a search on campus.

On Wednesday, a foul smell emanating from Block E caught the attention of the search team. By afternoon, the source of the odor was identified—a water tank on the rooftop of one of the hostels.

Inside, Kemunto’s decomposing body was discovered, three days after her disappearance.