Philip Eric Mutinda, a first-year Electrical Engineering student at Multimedia University (MMU), has been declared mentally unfit to stand trial for the murder of fellow student Sylvia Kemunto. The determination came after a psychiatric assessment conducted at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital.
In a medical report filed under Criminal Case No: E004 of 2025, doctors described Mutinda as mentally unstable. He appeared without any relatives to provide corroborative history and denied committing the crime, though he acknowledged being charged.
The psychiatrist noted that Mutinda was fairly groomed and somewhat cooperative, but spoke in a low tone and pitch, and gave responses considered unreliable.
“He is not fit to plead and recommended further corroborative history from his next of kin to complete the evaluation,” the report stated.
Despite this, the court on Monday directed the Prisons Department to return Mutinda to Mathari Hospital for a second evaluation, this time with a relative present to assist with background details.
Mutinda had initially pleaded not guilty before the court ordered a mental assessment to evaluate his fitness to stand trial.
The court is now awaiting an updated psychiatric report before determining the next steps. The case is scheduled for mention on Friday, June 27.
Kemunto’s body was found on April 2, 2025, inside a water tank on the rooftop of a hostel within the MMU campus. Investigators believe Mutinda strangled her during an argument over their recent breakup, placed her body in a green suitcase, and moved it to his hostel before dumping it in the tank.
A post-mortem revealed she died from strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.
