Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.

A Multimedia University (MMU) student, Eric Mutinda, who was charged with the murder of his fellow student and former girlfriend, Sylvia Kemunto, has been declared unfit to stand trial.

This followed a mental assessment conducted at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital after Mutinda pleaded not guilty to the crime.

As per a report by Citizen Digital, the first-year electrical engineering student was found to be mentally unstable according to a medical report filed under Criminal Case No: E004 of 2025.

The medical report noted that he appeared fairly groomed, was cooperative with some difficulty, but spoke in a low tone and pitch.

His history was deemed unreliable as he appeared alone without a relative to provide supporting background information.

"He is not fit to plead and recommended further corroborative history from his next of kin to complete the evaluation,” the examining doctor stated.

Despite the initial report, during a court mention on Monday, June 22, the presiding judge directed that Mutinda be taken back to Mathari Hospital for re-evaluation, this time accompanied by a relative.

The court is now awaiting an updated mental health report before determining the next steps in the case. The matter is set for mention on Friday, June 27.

Meanwhile, Kemunto was a first-year mass communication and computer science student.

According to earlier reports, Mutinda alleged that after Kemunto resisted his advances, a confrontation ensued during which he pushed her, causing her to hit her head against the wall.

Her body was discovered inside a water tank located on the rooftop of a hostel within the university compound, three days after she went missing.

How did Sylvia Kemunto die?

Meanwhile, amid growing public outcry for justice, a postmortem examination was conducted by government pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor.

It revealed that Kemunto was strangled and sustained head injuries caused by a blunt object.

The report further revealed that the deceased had multiple injuries consistent with defensive wounds, suggesting she struggled in an attempt to protect herself before being killed.

Following the revelation, Kemunto's legal team demanded accountability from the university, questioning why critical infrastructure, such as water tanks, was left unsecured.

Source: TUKO.co.ke