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Court temporarily declines bail review in MMU murder case over flight risk concerns

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The High Court has temporarily declined an application seeking a review of bail terms for Erick Mutinda, the accused in the murder of Multimedia University student Sylvia Kemunto, citing concerns that he may flee the country. In a ruling delivered before Justice Diana Kavedza at the Kibera law courts, the court said the fears were anchored on earlier prosecution testimony indicating that the accused had expressed intentions to escape to Tanzania after the alleged crime. “In the circumstances, the application for review of bail terms is temporarily declined and may be renewed on March 16, 2026,” the court ruled. Erick Mutinda on January 26,2026/Sarah Awinja  The decision followed testimony by a 19-year-old Multimedia University student, who told the court that on the night of April 3, 2025, Mutinda called him and confessed to killing his girlfriend. The witness testified that the accused narrated how he allegedly strangled Sylvia Kemunto by holding her neck, packed her body into a s...

Court hears mother’s testimony in Multimedia University student murder case

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Emotional moments were witnessed in a Nairobi court as the mother of Sylvia Kemunto, a first-year student at Multimedia University who was allegedly strangled, broke down in tears while recounting the events that led to her daughter’s death. Triza Kwamboka, while explaining before Justice Diana Kavedza at the Kibera Law Courts, narrated how her daughter disappeared and was later found dead under shocking circumstances. She told the court that on March 30, 2025, Sylvia called her and said she was well, even sending her some money for food. Later that day, her calls went unanswered, prompting her to travel to the university on Sunday to look for her daughter. At the school, Triza said she was first referred to Sylvia’s roommate, who told her thatupon arriving from church,she found the room disorganised. “Roommate wake aliniambia kuwa chumba kilikuwa kimevurugwa na Sylvia hakuwepo,”she said. She was later given the phone number of Erick Mutinda, the accused, who claimed Sylvia had left ea...

Court hears about roommate’s unusual actions before girlfriend’s disappearance

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A Multimedia University student has told a Nairobi court about the unusual behavior of his roommate, the accused Erick Mutinda, in the days leading up to the disappearance of his girlfriend, Sylvia Kemunto. The witness, a second-year student, said he noticed actions that raised alarm and decided to recount them before the court. He told the court that on Friday, March 28, 2025, Mutinda left their room, claiming he was visiting his sister. He returned hurriedly on Sunday, dropped his luggage on the bed, and left again shortly afterward. “At around 4:20 pm, I came back to the room and saw Erick laying beside a person and trying to hide the feet of the person which had some Quitex,” the witness testified. Later, while charging his phone at Mutinda’s bedside, he felt someone under a duvet cover but left at about 4:30 pm to attend a fellowship. “I tried sitting on the edge of Erick’s bed since I was charging my phone there, and when I placed a hand on the bed, I felt someone, though the per...

Student tells court accused confessed to strangling girlfriend, putting him on suitcase

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A Multimedia University (MMU) student has told a Nairobi court that Erick mutinda a student accused of murdering his girlfriend Sylvia Kemunto, confessed to strangling her, packing her body in a suitcase, and disposing of it. Testifying before Justice Diana Kavedza of Kibera law courts, 19-year-old Philip said Erick called him on the night of April 3, 2025, and narrated how he allegedly killed the deceased Sylvia Kemunto. "On the April 3,2025 Erick called me and told me that he had strangled her girlfriend by holding her neck, packed the body in a suitcase, and took it from his room using the back door of Block E, which has CCTV cameras," witness told the court. Erick Mutinda accused in the murder of multimedia University student Sylvia Kemunto /Photo/Sarah Awinja  The witness added that Erick asked him to keep the confession secret and mentioned he could flee to Tanzania using his father’s car.  The witness who says he has known the accused since their days at Matiliku High...

Waititu seeks reduction of Sh53.5 million bail, Cites terms "impossible"

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Former Nairobi Governor Ferdinand Ndungu Waititu Babayao has asked the High Court to lower his bail, claiming the Sh53.5 million bank guarantee set in July 2025 is impossible to secure. Through his lawyer, Chris N. Mutuku, Waititu is requesting that the amount be replaced with a cash deposit of Sh20 million or another sum the court finds appropriate The application cites the “Doctrine of Impossibility,” arguing that forcing him to meet the original conditions effectively denies him the right to bail. Ferdinand waititu/photo/files The former governor also highlights his advanced age and ill-health, warning that remaining in custody while his appeal is pending could cause irreparable harm.  Waititu also adds that he has faithfully followed court orders for over five years and poses no flight risk. Filed under Section 357(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the motion asks the court to treat the matter as urgent and hear it ex-parte, allowing for immediate review before the Prosecution...

Court acquits DJ Brown Skin in wife’s suicide case over lack of evidence

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A Nairobi court has acquitted Abdi Ibrahim, popularly known as DJ Brown Skin, who had been charged with aiding the suicide of his wife, after finding that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case. In its ruling, the court emphasized that “the right to life is the most fundamental of all rights,” while describing death by one’s own hand as “a profound tragedy that requires sobriety, compassion and careful legal reflection rather than moral judgment.” DJ Brown Skin faced three counts in relation to the death of his wife, Sharon Jereimi Wangi, who died on July 29, 2022, after ingesting insecticide.  Dj Brown Skin in Milimani law courts on January 22,2026/Screengrab The charges included aiding suicide, failing to prevent a felony on grounds that he allegedly knew of her intention to take her life and failed to intervene, and destroying evidence by allegedly removing a mobile phone SIM card to obstruct its use in judicial proceedings. At the close of the prosecution’s case...

Tractor driver released on bail over KPLC transformer damage

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 A Nairobi court on Wednesday released Titus Ntheuwa Ngathe, a tractor driver accused of damaging a 200KVA transformer sub-station owned by Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) in Westlands, after granting him bail. The hearing was held at Milimani Law Courts before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, who set the bond at Sh 100,000 with one contact person, or an alternative of similar amount with a surety.  Ngathe, a Kenyan adult male, pleaded not guilty on the alleged damage, valued at Sh 1.87 million which occurred on January 11, 2026, at 2nd Parklands Avenue, Westlands Sub-County.  Titus Ntheuwa Ngathe before Milimani magistrate court on January 21,2026. During the hearing, Ngathe’s lawyer made two applications which was for reasonable bail, noting that Ngathe is a tractor driver employed on Kenya Rural Roads Authority road works, and the tractor allegedly involved in the incident was part of official work. The counsel added, "The accused is fully employed, has a fixed h...