KIBRA, KENYA – The pursuit of justice for Sylvia Kemunto, the Multimedia University student whose life was tragically cut short in 2025, reached a critical milestone this Monday. As the murder trial against Eric Philip Mutinda officially commenced at the Kibra Law Courts, the prosecution unveiled a series of harrowing testimonies that paint a dark picture of the events leading to the student’s death.
From alleged confessions to the discovery of a heavy green suitcase, here is everything you need to know about the ongoing Sylvia Kemunto murder case.
The Confession: A Phone Call from the Run
The most explosive moment of the trial’s opening day came from a protected witness—a close friend of the accused. In a quiet courtroom, the witness detailed a phone call received on April 3rd, while Mutinda was allegedly fleeing the authorities.
According to the testimony, Mutinda confessed to strangling Sylvia Kemunto by the neck. The motive? A reported rejection of his romantic advances. The witness further claimed that Mutinda admitted to stuffing the victim’s body into a suitcase and hiding it before attempting to cross the border into Tanzania. At the time of the call, the suspect was reportedly located in Sultan Hamud.
The Disarray in Room 303: A Roommate’s Discovery
The timeline of the tragedy began on March 30th. Sylvia’s roommate provided a heartbreaking account of returning from a church service to a scene of chaos.
The Locked Door: Despite the room being locked, Sylvia was missing.
A Room in Shambles: The roommate described the bed as “messy” and noted buckets of soaked clothes scattered across the floor, suggesting a struggle or a frantic attempt to clean a crime scene.
The Identification: Later that evening, the roommate was tasked with the grim reality of identifying Kemunto’s body, which she recognized by the clothing her friend had been wearing.
The Green Suitcase: Chilling Eyewitness Accounts
A critical piece of evidence in the prosecution’s case is a large green suitcase. A fellow student testified to seeing Eric Philip Mutinda struggling to carry the heavy luggage down the stairs on the day of the disappearance.
The weight of the suitcase was so significant that it drew immediate attention. This account was later corroborated by Mutinda’s own roommate, who claimed to have seen the accused with the same suitcase—the very container investigators believe was used to transport Kemunto’s remains.
A Mother’s Grief Overshadows the Courtroom
The atmosphere in the Kibra Law Courts was heavy with emotion as Sylvia’s mother took the stand as the first witness. Her testimony was frequently interrupted by bouts of weeping as she recalled the final days of her daughter’s life and the agonizing period when she was missing. Her presence served as a stark reminder of the human life at the center of this legal battle.
What’s Next for the Case?
While the prosecution, led by Christine Timoy, is building a case centered on physical evidence and witness corroboration, the defense has signaled its intent to fight back. Defense lawyer Johnson Jr. has already begun challenging the credibility of the witnesses, particularly the details surrounding the alleged confession.
Key Trial Details:
Presiding Judge: Justice Diana Kaveta
Accused: Eric Philip Mutinda
Next Hearing Date: March 16, 2026
Expected Witnesses: 8 additional witnesses are scheduled to testify.
As the Multimedia University community and the nation at large watch closely, the court will reconvene in March to continue unravelling the truth behind the death of Sylvia Kemunto