23-year-old Erick Multimedia University student Mutinda Philip has been arraigned in court on charges of reportedly murdering a 20-year-old Sylvia Kemunto Ayaye, a bright first-year student pursuing Mathematics and Computer Science.
Arraigned before the High Court in Kibera, Mutinda stood solemnly as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions leveled a charge of murder against him, contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code. The charge stems from a chilling incident that unfolded on March 30th, 2025, inside the university premises along Magadi Road, Karen.
According to investigators, what began as a post-breakup conversation inside Sylvia’s hostel room turned sinister. The two had parted ways in February, and Mutinda allegedly visited her to “talk things out.” But the visit ended in horror. Authorities claim he strangled Sylvia to death — using his bare hands — before shoving her lifeless body into a green suitcase and wheeling it across campus to his own hostel room.
Days later, her body was discovered stuffed inside a water reservoir on the rooftop of Mutinda’s building — the tank crudely sealed shut using a wire and a stone.
The macabre details don’t end there. In an eerie twist, detectives say the accused offered Sylvia’s phone as a “sacrifice” on a church pulpit. Acting on his confession, police recovered the phone on April 1st at the Jesus is Alive Ministry Church, placed at the altar with the SIM card missing.
A post-mortem report confirmed the horror: Sylvia died from asphyxia due to ligature strangulation and suffered head trauma inflicted by blunt force.
Mutinda initially fled to Tanzania in a suspected bid to evade justice but later turned himself in at Sultan Hamud Police Station after intervention from his family.
The court has ordered that the case be mentioned on May 29th, 2025.
As the country reels from yet another case of campus-related violence, questions are being raised about mental health, toxic relationships, and the safety of young women in institutions of higher learning
