Sylvia Kemunto Murder Trial: Student’s Phone Found in Church Offering Bag

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 28 — A pastor has told the High Court in Kibera that a mobile phone belonging to murdered Multimedia University of Kenya student Sylvia Kemunto Ayaye was discovered among church offerings weeks after her disappearance.

The witness, who also serves as the church administrator at Jesus Is Alive Ministries, testified that an Oppo mobile phone was found among the collections on April 2, 2025, during the counting of offerings.

She told the court that the phone was kept in safe custody until police officers arrived to retrieve it.

The officers reportedly informed church officials that call data indicated the deceased’s phone had been within the church compound.

The testimony was heard during the murder trial of Erick Mutinda Philip, who is accused of killing the university student on March 30, 2025, at the Multimedia University campus along Magadi Road in Lang’ata, Nairobi County.

Silas Ochieng Elphine Otieno, who was in charge of the university’s security department, also testified, recounting how the institution received a report about Kemunto’s disappearance and worked with investigators to trace her whereabouts.

Otieno told the court that on April 2, 2025, a search team discovered a decomposing body inside a water reservoir tank on the rooftop of a university hostel.

Police were alerted and took over the scene, where the body was identified as that of the missing student.

Neununa Mounira Namatsi, a fellow student who described Kemunto as a close friend and classmate, told the court about her attempts to reach the deceased after she went missing.

Namatsi also testified about the relationship between Kemunto and the accused, describing it as toxic and alleging that Mutinda mistreated her.

She further told the court that Kemunto had considered moving to a hostel outside the university to avoid frequent encounters with the accused.

However, her mother reportedly advised her to remain at the university for the remainder of her studies.

Derrick Higai Luther, a student who shared a hostel room with the accused, testified about their accommodation arrangements and interactions with university security personnel during the period under investigation.

Meghan Nasserian Kihara, who had previously shared a room with Kemunto, also testified about her knowledge of the deceased and information she received following the discovery of the body.

The prosecution is presenting witness testimony to establish the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

The hearing is ongoing before the High Court in Kibera.

Mutinda remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of law.