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{
"id": 1598903,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1598903/?format=api",
"text_counter": 125,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Narok West, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Gabriel Tongoyo",
"speaker": null,
"content": " I am well guided, Hon. Speaker. I will now respond to the Statement sought by the Member for Kisii County on the tragic death of Ms Sylvia Kemunto and the escalating cases of gender-based violence. The Member sought to know: 1. The circumstances that led to the killing of Ms Sylvia Kemunto. 2. How the suspect accessed the victim’s room at the university. 3. The status of investigation and action being taken to prosecute the perpetrators. 4. The immediate and long-term measures that have been put in place within the institution of higher learning to guarantee the safety of students, particularly female students who remain inappropriately vulnerable. Hon. Speaker, in September 2024, Eric Mutinda Philip, the suspect, and Sylvia Kemunto, the deceased, were both admitted to Multimedia University of Kenya to pursue degree programmes in Electronic Engineering and Mathematics for Computer Sciences, respectively. The two became friends and developed an intimate relationship. However, in February the same year, their relationship deteriorated, leading to separation. On 28th March 2025, Eric Mutinda travelled to his sister’s residence in Kasarani Sub-County for a long weekend visit, where he stayed until 30th March 2025. Upon return, he proceeded to his Room 301 in Block E Hostel, where he found his two roommates. While preparing for a scheduled hiking trip to Ololua Picnic Site, Eric realised he was missing a chest bag that he needed for the trip. In search of the bag, he went to Silvia Kemunto’s room, Room 90 located in Block B. At the time, Silvia was alone doing laundry since her roommate, Abigail Salama, had gone to church outside the university. During this encounter, Eric attempted to reconcile with her, urging her to resolve the issue that had led to their break-up. Despite his persistent efforts, Silvia firmly declined to rekindle the relationship. The situation escalated into a heated argument and the suspect strangled Silvia, resulting in her death. He then placed the body into a green medium-sized suitcase belonging to the deceased and moved the suitcase to his own room. Later that day, he dumped the body in a rooftop water reservoir tank on Block B. On the status of the investigation, Ms Triza Kemunto reported the disappearance of her daughter on 1st April 2025 at Langata Police Station, vide OB No.31/1/4/2025. Ms Kemunto revealed that in her search for Silvia, she had visited the university and checked her daughter’s hostel room. While there, she tried to reach out to Eric Mutinda, hoping that he would shed light on Silvia’s last known movements. However, the suspect refused to disclose any information. On 2nd April 2025, the university security team conducted a search within the campus. During the search, they discovered a body dumped inside a rooftop reservoir tank at Block B Hostel. The university management immediately reported the matter to the DCI Langata. At about 6.00 p.m., a team of officers from the DCI Homicide and the DCI Headquarters Crime Scene Investigation and from the Nairobi Area visited the scene. Key evidence was collected from the scene and upon examination, the body was positively identified as that of Silvia. The suspect then attended a church service at Jesus is Alive Ministries in Nairobi and gave Silvia’s mobile phone as an offering, after which he travelled to his family rural home in The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}