Murdered Multimedia University student’s phone found among church offerings, court told

By Caroline Waforo

A mobile phone belonging to murdered Multimedia University of Kenya student Sylvia Kemunto Ayaye was found among church offerings, the High Court in Kibera has heard.

A pastor, who also serves as an administrator at Jesus Is Alive Ministries, testified that an Oppo mobile phone was discovered among the church collections on 2 April 2025.The witness told the court that the phone was kept in safe custody until police officers arrived to collect it. According to the witness, investigators said call data indicated that the deceased’s phone had been within the church compound.

The testimony was presented during the murder trial of Erick Mutinda Philip, who is accused of killing the university student.

Silas Ochieng Elphine Otieno, who was in charge of the university’s security department, also testified about the institution’s efforts to trace Sylvia after receiving a report that she was missing.

Otieno told the court that on 2 April 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 Sylvia.Another witness, Neununa Mounira Namatsi, a fellow student and friend of the deceased, recounted her attempts to contact Sylvia after she went missing.Namatsi also testified about the relationship between Sylvia and the accused, describing it as toxic and alleging that he mistreated her. She told the court that Sylvia 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 until she completed 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 Sylvia, also gave evidence concerning her knowledge of the deceased and information she received following the discovery of the body.Mutinda is accused of murdering Sylvia on 30 March 2025 at Multimedia University of Kenya, along Magadi Road in Lang’ata Sub-County, Nairobi County.The hearing is ongoing.