Philip Eric Mutinda, the prime suspect in the murder of Multimedia University (MMU) student Sylvia Kemunto, has surrendered to authorities after evading capture for several days. Mutinda, a first-year Electrical Engineering student, turned himself in at the Sultan Hamud Police Station in Makueni County on Thursday night, April 3, 2025.
According to Nairobi Police Commander George Sedah, officers from Nairobi have been dispatched to pick up the suspect and transport him for further interrogation.
“It is unfortunate that a bright girl was killed. We believe he is a prime suspect in the murder,” said Sedah. “A team has gone to pick him up.”
Timeline: The Tragic Disappearance of Sylvia Kemunto
Kemunto, a First-Year Mass Communication and Computer Science student, went missing on Sunday, March 30, under unclear circumstances. Her mother, Triza Kwamboka, became concerned after failing to reach her following a money transfer.
“Sylvia had told me that there was a guy who was making advances at her; she did not like him, but he kept forcing her to be his friend,” Kwamboka said.
Investigations later revealed that Mutinda visited Kemunto’s Block B dormitory, room 90, around 1 p.m. on the day she vanished. Eyewitnesses saw him struggling with a suitcase, which is believed to have belonged to Kemunto, as he moved it to his own residence in Block E, room 301.
His roommate reportedly noticed the suitcase in their room that evening, but it had disappeared by morning.
Gruesome Discovery in Rooftop Water Tank
After a three-day search, a foul smell coming from the rooftop of Block E led to the discovery of Kemunto’s body inside a water tank. Her decomposing body was found on the night of Wednesday, April 2, tragically ending the search.
Police had been tracing Kemunto’s phone, which was last active within the university grounds before being switched off that evening. The discovery has left the university community and her family devastated.
What Comes Next?
Police believe Mutinda fled to his rural home following the crime and are now working to determine whether he acted alone or had accomplices. The motive behind the killing remains under investigation.
Mutinda’s surrender marks a major step forward in the case, but investigators stress that this is just the beginning. He is expected to face formal charges following questioning.
