A heart-wrenching scene unfolded at Kibera Law Courts on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, as the mother of murdered Multimedia University student Sylvia Kemunto broke down in uncontrollable sobs when the man accused of killing her appeared in court.
Erick Mutinda, the key suspect in the brutal killing that has shocked the nation, was brought in for plea taking, only for the courtroom to descend into a state of visible grief and anguish.
As Mutinda stood in the dock, expressionless and calm, all eyes turned to the back of the courtroom where Triza Kwamboka, Sylvia’s mother, burst into tears, her wails piercing the tense silence.
Relatives rushed to comfort the devastated mother as court orderlies paused proceedings to restore calm.
The grief-stricken mother, still reeling from the loss of her only daughter, had to be physically supported as she struggled to remain composed while facing the man accused of ending her child’s life.
Mutinda, who is accused of having murdered 20-year-old Kemunto in cold blood and hidden her body inside a water tank, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Kibera High Court Lady Justice Diana Kavedza Mochache ordered that he be held in custody for 30 more days pending the filing of a probation report.
The case is scheduled for mention on May 29, 2025.
On April 7, 2025, the court granted police 21 days to continue detaining Erick Mutinda Philip.
Senior Principal Magistrate Zainab Abdul directed Mutinda to be detained at the Capitol Hill station to enable the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to complete its investigations.
Issuing the directive to detain Mutinda, Senior Principal Magistrate Zainab stated that it would not be wise to release him at this stage and ordered that he be detained for the requested 21 days at the Capitol Hill station.
“At this juncture, it will not be proper to release the respondent on bond; therefore, in the interest of justice and bearing in mind that a life was lost, I find that the application is merited and the same is allowed,” ruled Senior Principal Magistrate Zainab.
A promising life cut short
Kemunto, a first-year Mass Communications and Computer Science major, vanished on March 30, 2025.
Her mother, Triza Kwamboka, who lives in Kawangware, became alarmed when her calls to confirm the receipt of upkeep money went unanswered.
Her mother’s subsequent visit to the university confirmed Kemunto’s disappearance.
A police report was filed at Langata Police Station.
Investigations revealed that Kemunto’s roommate had left her alone in their Block B room number 90 on the day she disappeared.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing Mutinda moving a suitcase, believed to be Kemunto’s, from her room to his own room, number 301 in Block E.
Mutinda’s roommate later noticed the suitcase but found it missing the next day.
Police traced Kemunto’s phone records, which placed her within the university compound until approximately 10 pm on the day she disappeared.
A foul smell emanating from Block E led investigators to a water tank on the rooftop, where Kemunto’s decomposing body was discovered three days after her disappearance.
Mutinda’s decision to turn himself in, accompanied by his parents, raises further questions about the circumstances surrounding Kemunto’s death.
Martin Oduor
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