KE High Court: Sylvia Kemunto Murder Trial Hears Student’s Phone Found in Church

• A pastor testified that Sylvia Kemunto Ayaye's mobile phone was found in church offerings on April 2, 2025.
• Kemunto, a Multimedia University student, was found deceased in a campus water reservoir tank on the same day.
• Erick Mutinda Philip stands accused of her murder, which allegedly occurred on March 30, 2025.
• A friend described the relationship between Kemunto and the accused as toxic, alleging mistreatment.
• The murder trial is currently ongoing before the High Court in Kibera.

A pastor informed the High Court in Kibera that a mobile phone belonging to the late Multimedia University student, Sylvia Kemunto Ayaye, was discovered among church offerings weeks after her initial disappearance.

The High Court in Kibera is currently hearing a murder trial concerning the death of Sylvia Kemunto Ayaye, a student at Multimedia University of Kenya. Central to the ongoing proceedings is the discovery of the deceased's mobile phone, which a pastor testified was found among church offerings. This crucial piece of evidence emerged weeks after Ms. Ayaye's disappearance, adding a significant layer to the investigation into her untimely death.

The pastor, who also serves as an administrator at Jesus Is Alive Ministries, informed the court that an Oppo mobile phone was located within the collected offerings on April 2, 2025. This discovery occurred during the routine counting of donations. The church officials maintained custody of the device until law enforcement officers arrived to retrieve it. According to the police, call data indicated that the phone had been present within the church compound, linking the location to the missing student.

Ms. Ayaye's body was tragically discovered on the same day, April 2, 2025, inside a water reservoir tank situated on the rooftop of a university hostel. Silas Ochieng Elphine Otieno, head of the university's security department, recounted how the institution initiated a search after receiving a report of Kemunto's disappearance. A search team ultimately made the grim discovery, prompting police intervention and the subsequent identification of the body as that of the missing student. Erick Mutinda Philip is currently accused of committing the murder on March 30, 2025, at the Multimedia University campus located along Magadi Road in Lang’ata, Nairobi County.

The prosecution's case relies heavily on a series of witness testimonies, each shedding light on different aspects of the events surrounding Sylvia Kemunto Ayaye's death. Neununa Mounira Namatsi, a fellow student and close friend of Kemunto, provided emotional testimony about her attempts to contact the deceased after she went missing. Ms. Namatsi further detailed the nature of the relationship between Kemunto and the accused, Erick Mutinda Philip. She characterized their interactions as toxic, alleging instances of mistreatment by Mutinda towards Kemunto.

This strained relationship reportedly led Kemunto to consider moving to accommodation outside the university premises, hoping to reduce her encounters with the accused. However, her mother reportedly advised her to remain within the university environment to complete her studies. Other students also took the stand to offer their accounts. Derrick Higai Luther, who shared a hostel room with the accused, testified regarding their living arrangements and interactions with university security personnel during the period under investigation.

Meghan Nasserian Kihara, a former roommate of Kemunto, also contributed to the proceedings by sharing her knowledge of the deceased and information she gathered following the discovery of the body. These various accounts are being presented by the prosecution to construct a comprehensive picture of the circumstances that led to the student's death, aiming to establish the facts for the court.

The murder trial against Erick Mutinda Philip is actively proceeding before the High Court in Kibera. The prosecution's strategy involves meticulously presenting witness testimony to establish the full context and details surrounding the tragic death of Sylvia Kemunto Ayaye. Each witness's account is crucial in building the case against the accused, who faces serious charges related to the student's murder.

As the legal proceedings continue, the fundamental principle of justice dictates that Mr. Mutinda remains presumed innocent. This presumption will stand unless and until he is proven guilty by a court of law, following the presentation of all evidence and arguments. The court is tasked with carefully weighing all testimonies and evidence to reach a just verdict in this high-profile case. The hearing is ongoing, with further testimonies expected as the prosecution continues to lay out its evidence.

Source: Reporting on the ongoing High Court proceedings in Kibera.