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

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 earlier and refused to speak to him.

While sobbing, Triza told the court that Erick fled on Monday, pretending to make phone calls at the school gate. CID officers later visited both Sylvia’s and Erick’s hostels, where Erick was found to have changed his clothes.

Statements were taken from students, but there was no immediate trace of Sylvia. Triza added that efforts to trace her daughter showed that she never left the university premises

“Signal ya simu ya mtoto wangu ilionyesha kuwa hakuwa ametoka nje ya geti la shule,”she explained.

On Wednesday evening, Teresia was informed that her daughter had been found dead.

Accused Erick mutinda in Kibera law courts on January 26,2026

Upon going to the City Mortuary, she told the court that identifying Sylvia’s body was difficult, saying, 

“Nilipofika City Mortuary, mwili ulikuwa umevimba sana, jambo lililofanya iwe vigumu kumtambua.”

She added that she only managed to identify her daughter through specific marks, stating, 

“Nilimtambua kupitia alama za Quitex nyeupe kwenye vidole vya mikono na miguu sababu nilimuona mara ya mwisho akiwa nyumbani kama amepaka,"Triza said.

An exhibit shown before court of the attire the deceased worn before his death/Photo/Reporter

The grieving mother further testified that she had previously been aware of Erick harassing her daughter, including blocking her and taking her phone.

Sylvia had confirmed to her that Erick was the one bothering her, prompting Triza to advise her daughter to commute from home and only stay in the hostel during the examination period.

Triza also told the court that Sylvia was raised by her as a single parent and that she supported her education financially.

She further added that Sylvia had initially planned to study medicine at the University of Nairobi but later joined Multimedia University to pursue Computer Science due to financial constraints.

Triza strongly denied claims that her daughter was in a romantic relationship with the accused, stating that Sylvia would have informed her if that were the case.

The court is set to hear testimony from other key witnesses as the trial continues on the March 16,2026.