Tragedy struck the Multimedia University (MMU) community after the decomposing body of a first-year student, Sylvia Kemunto, was discovered in a rooftop water tank. The 19-year-old student, pursuing a dual major in Mass Communications and Computer Science, had been reported missing on Sunday, March 30.
Sylvia’s disappearance raised alarm after her mother, Triza Kwamboka, failed to reach her. Concerned after repeated unanswered calls, especially after sending her upkeep money through a church elder’s phone, the mother traveled to the university, only to find that her daughter was not in her hostel. The university administration confirmed Sylvia’s absence, and a missing person report was filed at Lang’ata Police Station.
Investigations have revealed that Sylvia may have been murdered in her room before her body was disposed of in a water tank. According to police, she had been strangled and hit with a blunt object. Her body was discovered on Wednesday, April 2, following a search prompted by a foul smell emanating from the rooftop of one of the hostel blocks, specifically Block E.
The prime suspect in the case is believed to be a fellow student, said to have been Sylvia’s boyfriend. Witness accounts suggest that he visited her room around midday on the day she disappeared. Her roommate had gone to church, leaving Sylvia alone in the room at the time. Witnesses later saw the man dragging a suitcase — reportedly belonging to the deceased — from her room to his room in another block. It is suspected that the suitcase contained Sylvia’s body.
Later that night, the suspect’s roommate noticed the suitcase in their shared room and observed the man lying on it. By the following morning, both the man and the suitcase had vanished. Surveillance and witness statements suggest the body was later dragged to the rooftop and dumped in the water tank, which was then secured with a wire and weighed down with a stone, likely to delay discovery.
In the days following her disappearance, authorities traced Sylvia’s phone signal, which had been switched off but still appeared to be within the campus vicinity near Ongata Rongai. This development led to a coordinated search of the university premises.
After the grim discovery, the university community was left in shock. Students expressed outrage and grief, demanding justice for Sylvia. Many described her as cheerful, focused, and ambitious.
The acting Vice Chancellor confirmed that the institution is fully cooperating with authorities in their investigation. The suspect remains at large, and a manhunt is ongoing. Detectives are working to determine the motive behind the murder and whether the suspect acted alone.
Sylvia’s mother had earlier reported that her daughter had been uncomfortable with advances from a fellow student, whom she had rejected. Sylvia reportedly told her mother about the persistent attention, and her mother had encouraged her to remain firm and vigilant.
This harrowing incident adds to a growing number of gender-based violence cases that have sparked public concern. The MMU tragedy is yet another stark reminder of the urgent need to address violence against women and enhance safety measures within learning institutions. As the investigation continues, friends, family, and the university community mourn the loss of a young life full of promise.
