Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

- Eric Mutinda, a 19-year-old first-year student at Multimedia University, has been remanded for 21 days as police continue their investigation into the alleged murder of his ex-girlfriend, Sylvia Kemunto, who was also a student at the same institution.

Kibera Magistrate Zainab Abdul approved the state's request to hold the suspect in custody, granting authorities additional time to complete their inquiries.

The prosecution argued that the seriousness of the charges warranted the extended detention.

Mutinda reportedly turned himself in to the police on April 4 at Sultan Hamud after evading capture for several days.

The prosecution informed the court that the case is being treated as a femicide and that they suspect Mutinda's involvement in the crime.

Lawyer Danstan Omari, speaking on behalf of Sylvia’s family, described the incident as a clear case of femicide, a gender-based crime that he warned is increasingly threatening women.

Omari urged the court to recognize the gravity of the alleged crime, which occurred at a university that parents trust to provide a safe environment for their daughters.

The defense opposed the request for continued detention, arguing that Mutinda had not yet been formally charged.

His lawyer claimed that holding him beyond the arrest date—last Friday—would violate his constitutional rights.

Court documents reveal that both the suspect and the victim were first-year students at Multimedia University, studying Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, and Mathematics for Computer Science, respectively.

The two reportedly began a relationship in September 2024, but Sylvia ended it in February 2025. Despite the breakup, Mutinda is alleged to have continued harassing her until her tragic death.

In her ruling, Magistrate Abdul acknowledged that liberty is a fundamental right but emphasized the need to balance it with the interests of justice.

She concluded that the continued detention of Mutinda was reasonable to allow the investigation to proceed.

As reported earlier, Mutinda, who is being treated as the main suspect behind Kemunto's gruesome murder, turned himself in to the police.

The suspect surrendered to authorities at Sultan Hamud Police Station in Makueni county early on the morning of Friday, April 4.

Mutinda, whose connection to the victim was confirmed, was placed in police custody to assist the police with investigations.

Sources had indicated that Mutinda was romantically involved with Kemunto and that their relationship may have played a role in the tragic turn of events.

Source: TUKO.co.ke