A suspect in the tragic murder of Multimedia University (MMU) student Sylvia Kemunto has surrendered to police after several days on the run. The suspect, a first-year Electrical Engineering student at the same university, is believed to be the prime suspect in the killing of Kemunto, a fellow first-year student studying Mass Communication and Computer Science.
Kemunto’s body was found on Wednesday, April 2, in a water tank located on the rooftop of one of the university hostels. The discovery followed a campus-wide search after her disappearance was reported by her mother, Triza Kwamboka, who had been unable to reach her for several days.
According to police investigations, the suspect may have killed Kemunto in her hostel room and later transported her body in a suitcase to a different block. Witnesses reported seeing him drag the suitcase, which is believed to have contained the body, across campus. That same night, his roommate noticed the suitcase in their room, but by the next morning, both the suitcase and the suspect were gone.
Further reports suggest the motive behind the crime may have been linked to unwanted romantic advances. Kemunto had reportedly told her mother about a fellow student who was persistently pursuing her despite her lack of interest. She had been advised to stay firm and avoid any interactions with him.
The search for Kemunto began on March 30 after her mother, concerned over unanswered calls, traveled to the university from their home in Kawangware. The university confirmed her daughter’s absence, and a missing person report was filed at Lang’ata Police Station. Investigations soon traced the last known signal from Kemunto’s phone to a location within the university compound, though the phone had been turned off.
The search intensified after the signal was traced to the vicinity of Ongata Rongai. It wasn’t until a foul odor began to emerge from the rooftop of Block E that the search team discovered the decomposing body hidden inside the water tank. The tank had been wired shut and covered with a stone, apparently to avoid detection.
After the discovery, authorities launched a manhunt for the suspect. It is believed that after committing the crime, he fled to his rural home in Makueni County. He later turned himself in at the Sultan Hamud police station on Thursday night, where he was taken into custody by officers who had traveled from Nairobi.
An autopsy is expected to be conducted to determine the exact cause of Kemunto’s death. Investigators are also working to establish whether the suspect acted alone or had any accomplices. The university has expressed shock over the incident and affirmed that they are cooperating fully with police investigations.
The murder of Sylvia Kemunto has added to growing concerns over the rising cases of violence against women, especially within institutions of higher learning. The incident has sparked outrage and renewed calls for better measures to protect students and address gender-based violence on campuses across the country.
Authorities have pledged a thorough investigation to bring justice to Kemunto and her grieving family, while the university community continues to come to terms with the horrific loss of one of its own.
